Millions of children in China grow up in families that have moved from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities. Many migrant children face stress, discrimination, difficulties adjusting to new environments, and limited access to resources. These experiences can affect their emotional well-being, behavior, and sense of belonging at school and in their communities.

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Our team works with schools and community partners to find practical ways to support migrant children's mental health and adjustment. One approach we have explored is mindfulness, which helps children develop skills for managing emotions, handling stress, and staying focused in daily life.

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In 2016, we collaborated with the New Citizen Project and Rutgers University to pilot a mindfulness program with 5th-grade students at a migrant school in Beijing. Students reported fewer emotional and behavioral difficulties after participating in the program. In 2020, we expanded this work to 3 schools in Shenzhen, where 4th- and 5th-grade students took part in either a mindfulness program or a psycho-education program. In 2021, we brought the program to 5 Shenzhen schools and focused on supporting students experiencing emotional challenges. The program was delivered by trained teachers and youth workers, making it practical for schools to implement.

 

Through these projects, we found that mindfulness programs were welcomed by students and could be successfully delivered in schools with limited resources. Some students, especially those experiencing greater emotional distress, showed improvements in their well-being and adjustment. At the same time, our findings showed that no single program can address all of the challenges migrant children face. By working closely with schools, educators, and community organizations, we aim to create more supportive and inclusive environments where migrant students can learn, grow, and thrive.

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Training materials from these projects are available on our Resources page, and research publications can be found on our Publications page.

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Learn More About Our Research Findings:

• Mindfulness in schools for internal migrant children at risk of anxiety and depression: A randomized trial ​🔗

• Mindfulness, emotion and behaviour: An intervention study with Chinese migrant children 🔗

• Mindfulness and academic performance: An example of migrant children in China 🔗

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