DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL

Peta Stapleton; Angela Douglas; Matthew Blanchard

doi:10.55020/iojpe.1670052

DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL

Abstract

This pilot study compared the effects of daily mindfulness meditation and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping on the emotional and behavioral regulation of 5-year-old children over a three-week period. Participants were divided into two groups, each receiving one of the interventions. Self-regulation, happiness, and life satisfaction were assessed weekly using validated measures. Results indicated that both interventions significantly improved self-regulation, however, no significant changes were observed in happiness and life satisfaction for either group. The findings suggest that while both mindfulness meditation and EFT tapping can enhance self-regulation in young children, longer intervention periods may be warranted for the other constructs. These results have implications for the implementation of mental health programs in early childhood education, highlighting the potential of both meditation and EFT practices to support emotional resilience from a young age.

Keywords

Meditation, emotional freedom techniques (EFT), children, emotional regulation.

Ethical Statement

All ethical rules were observed at each stage of the research. The author declares that he acted in accordance with ethical rules in all processes of the research. The first author declares she may receive financial compensation for keynote presentations and book royalties for her research expertise in EFT. The other authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest with other persons, institutions or organizations.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Primary Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Peta Stapleton ^*
0000-0001-9916-7481
Australia

Angela Douglas This is me
0000-0002-8120-451X
Australia

Matthew Blanchard
0000-0001-5557-8617
Australia

Publication Date

September 30, 2025

Submission Date

April 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1670052

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA54LY99RE

APA

Stapleton, P., Douglas, A., & Blanchard, M. (2025). DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL. International Online Journal of Primary Education, 14(3), 64-73. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1670052

AMA

1.Stapleton P, Douglas A, Blanchard M. DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2025;14(3):64-73. doi:10.55020/iojpe.1670052

Chicago

Stapleton, Peta, Angela Douglas, and Matthew Blanchard. 2025. “DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL”. International Online Journal of Primary Education 14 (3): 64-73. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1670052.

EndNote

Stapleton P, Douglas A, Blanchard M (September 1, 2025) DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL. International Online Journal of Primary Education 14 3 64–73.

IEEE

[1]P. Stapleton, A. Douglas, and M. Blanchard, “DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL”, Int. Online J. Prim. Educ., vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 64–73, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.55020/iojpe.1670052.

ISNAD

Stapleton, Peta - Douglas, Angela - Blanchard, Matthew. “DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL”. International Online Journal of Primary Education 14/3 (September 1, 2025): 64-73. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1670052.

JAMA

1.Stapleton P, Douglas A, Blanchard M. DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2025;14:64–73.

MLA

Stapleton, Peta, et al. “DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL”. International Online Journal of Primary Education, vol. 14, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 64-73, doi:10.55020/iojpe.1670052.

Vancouver

1.Peta Stapleton, Angela Douglas, Matthew Blanchard. DAILY MEDITATION VERSUS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: A PILOT AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2025 Sep. 1;14(3):64-73. doi:10.55020/iojpe.1670052

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