Adolescent-Centered Compassion: Aligning Curriculum with Developmental Needs through Co-Design

• In Event: Child Development Across Varied Contexts

Abstract

Adolescence is a key window for compassion development, yet few programs are designed through a developmental lens. This co-design study engaged high school students in adapting four curricular components found in adult compassion trainings: field of care, emotional granularity, stress shapes, and mindfulness. Research questions included: (1) Do the components resonate with adolescents? (2) Does co-design support developmental needs? Fifteen students (53% male; Mage = 16) from a Pennsylvania high school participated in this mixed-methods study using surveys and field notebooks. Results showed students found the components engaging, especially stress shapes, and the co-design process supported developmental needs, particularly belonging. Here, revised curricular tools and design exercises will be shared to create more inclusive, student-centered compassion education in high schools.

Author

• Blake A. Colaianne, Pennsylvania State University