Enhancing Nursing Students' Compassion, Empathy and Communication Through Mindfulness‐Based Meditation: A Mixed‐Methods Study
Nursing Open November 1, 2025 Tuba Sengul, Aleyna Özkan, Ayşe Eminoğlu et al.
An 8-week, 16-session online mindfulness-based compassion meditation programme, structured around Kabat-Zinn's MBSR framework and Neff's Self-Compassion Theory, was tested with 53 nursing students (mean age 21, 92.5% female). Scores on the Compassion Competence Scale and Communication Skills Scale increased significantly after the programme, while Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale scores increased but not significantly. Qualitative themes included personal reflections, self-compassion awareness, emotional regulation, empathic relationships, and meditation challenges. The authors conclude that such meditation can enhance compassion, empathy, and communication skills, supporting professional and emotional development in nursing students.