Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children

A transdiagnostic approach is increasingly recognized as crucial in the prevention or treatment of child internalizing and externalizing mental health concerns. There is substantial overlap and comorbidity among various mental health concerns and the onset of one mental illness elevates the risk of...

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Main Authors: Laura Lynne Armstrong, Emmalyne Watt, Catherine Laura Potter, Brent L. Epperson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1467332/full
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author Laura Lynne Armstrong
Emmalyne Watt
Catherine Laura Potter
Brent L. Epperson
author_facet Laura Lynne Armstrong
Emmalyne Watt
Catherine Laura Potter
Brent L. Epperson
author_sort Laura Lynne Armstrong
collection DOAJ
description A transdiagnostic approach is increasingly recognized as crucial in the prevention or treatment of child internalizing and externalizing mental health concerns. There is substantial overlap and comorbidity among various mental health concerns and the onset of one mental illness elevates the risk of others, underscoring the potential limitations of singular-focused mental health education or treatment. Meaning Mindset Theory (MMT) is a transdiagnostic framework developed and evaluated over the past decade in Canada as a promising new approach. MMT emphasizes agency over thoughts and behaviors, empathy and social competence skills, and meaningful engagement to enhance resilience for both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The DREAM Program—Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, and Meaning is a mental health education program grounded in MMT principles. This program has enhanced meaning mindset—agency over thoughts and behaviors, hope for a future that is good, positive self-concept, and openness to learning, new experiences, and feelings—as well as both internalizing and externalizing mental health. To date, the DREAM program, as well as MMT more broadly, has been tested in diverse populations with school-aged children, families, neurodiverse and intellectually gifted young people, homeless men, and Black families, among others. Future research should explore the efficacy of an MMT in therapeutic settings compared to standard treatments, potentially enhancing mental health intervention strategies for Canadian children and families.
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spelling doaj-art-d76c18765d134c509d40be48b5cf889f2025-01-24T07:13:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-01-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.14673321467332Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for childrenLaura Lynne Armstrong0Emmalyne Watt1Catherine Laura Potter2Brent L. Epperson3Saint Paul University, Schools of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality and Conflict Studies, Ottawa, ON, CanadaSaint Paul University, Schools of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality and Conflict Studies, Ottawa, ON, CanadaSaint Paul University, Schools of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality and Conflict Studies, Ottawa, ON, CanadaSchool of Conflict Studies, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, ON, CanadaA transdiagnostic approach is increasingly recognized as crucial in the prevention or treatment of child internalizing and externalizing mental health concerns. There is substantial overlap and comorbidity among various mental health concerns and the onset of one mental illness elevates the risk of others, underscoring the potential limitations of singular-focused mental health education or treatment. Meaning Mindset Theory (MMT) is a transdiagnostic framework developed and evaluated over the past decade in Canada as a promising new approach. MMT emphasizes agency over thoughts and behaviors, empathy and social competence skills, and meaningful engagement to enhance resilience for both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The DREAM Program—Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, and Meaning is a mental health education program grounded in MMT principles. This program has enhanced meaning mindset—agency over thoughts and behaviors, hope for a future that is good, positive self-concept, and openness to learning, new experiences, and feelings—as well as both internalizing and externalizing mental health. To date, the DREAM program, as well as MMT more broadly, has been tested in diverse populations with school-aged children, families, neurodiverse and intellectually gifted young people, homeless men, and Black families, among others. Future research should explore the efficacy of an MMT in therapeutic settings compared to standard treatments, potentially enhancing mental health intervention strategies for Canadian children and families.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1467332/fullmeaning mindsettransdiagnosticmental health promotionchild mental healththird wave positive psychology
spellingShingle Laura Lynne Armstrong
Emmalyne Watt
Catherine Laura Potter
Brent L. Epperson
Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
Frontiers in Psychology
meaning mindset
transdiagnostic
mental health promotion
child mental health
third wave positive psychology
title Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
title_full Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
title_fullStr Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
title_full_unstemmed Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
title_short Meaning mindset theory: a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
title_sort meaning mindset theory a transdiagnostic approach to mental health promotion and intervention for children
topic meaning mindset
transdiagnostic
mental health promotion
child mental health
third wave positive psychology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1467332/full
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