Exploring Public Perception of Mindfulness in Canadian Schools: A News Media Content Analysis

Abstract

Mindfulness practices have been increasingly adopted in schools across Canada and beyond. While previous literature has explored a range of purposes for mindfulness little is yet known about the ways in which it is understood by broad communities. News media serves as a key source of public discourse on topics like mindfulness in education that can reflect and influence public understanding and actions. This study explores the depiction of mindfulness within schools as it existed in Canadian news media between 2014 and 2019. The Canadian Major Dailies Proquest database was searched using the terms ‘mindfulness’ and ‘education OR school’. After an initial scan of 719 articles, 69 were retained. Deductive content analyses were conducted; themes included emotional, cognitive, social, and physical effects of mindfulness practices in schools. Divergent narratives were noted, reflecting a need for greater coherence and a shared rationale supporting the use of mindfulness practices in schools.