The Effect of Mindfulness-based Group Therapy on Aggression and Resilience of Suburban Children in Mashhad

Introduction: Given the effect of low socio-economic status of marginalized residents on children s behavioral and emotional problems, it is important to take measures to strengthen resilience and reduce aggression in children. This paper aims to determine the effect of mindfulness-based group therapy on resilience and aggression of children in the suburbs of Mashhad. Method: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 60 elementary school students aged 8-12 years referred to the social worker and psychology clinic in Sayyedi district of Mashhad in 2019-2020. They were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. The intervention group received mindfulness-based group therapy using Kabat-Zinn s (2003) approach over 8 sessions of 90 min while the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data collection tools included the Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scale (SEARS) as well as the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 22 software and MANCOVA test. Results: The results showed that mindfulness-based group therapy could significantly improve resilience and reduce aggression in the intervention group compared to the control group (p 0.001). Conclusion: Mindfulness-based group therapy can be effective in mitigating aggression and enhancing resilience of children in the suburbs of Mashhad.