Abstract
Approximately one million children enroll in kindergarten each year with varying levels of experience and school readiness. Fundamental school readiness skills parallel executive functioning skills, which multiple interventions are able to target. School readiness intervention programs can be costly and require a considerable amount of training. Teachers and other school staff need an affordable, easy-to-implement intervention that targets critical school readiness skills. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to improve executive functioning skills like self-regulation, which is skill for school readiness. Soles of the Feet (SOF) is an evidence-based MBI that has been found effective for increasing self-regulation in schoolaged children. This study sought to pilot SOF with kindergarten students to increase academic engagement and decrease disruptive behavior for those who were identified as needing support in this area. Using a multiple baseline across subjects design, academic engagement and disruptive behavior data were collected during baseline, SOF training, SOF independent, and SOF reminders phases. Results demonstrated increases in academic engagement, particularly during the reminder phase. Near-zero levels of disruptive behavior were observed throughout phases. Limitations and future directions for research were discussed.
Advisor
Carlos Panahon
Committee Member
Carlos Panahon
Date of Degree
2024
Language
english
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Program of Study
School Psychology
Department
Psychology
College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Moen, Caitlin. (2024). Enhancing a School Readiness Skill Through a Mindfulness-Based Intervention: Soles of the Feet [Doctoral dissertation, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1455/
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
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