Mindfulness and stress-reduction programs' effectiveness on university student productivity in physical education.
The Journal of general psychology January 1, 2026 Yun Bo Wang, Zhen Mei Yao, Gao Hua Zhang
A randomized controlled trial at Mudanjiang Normal University, China, tested a three-month mindfulness-based stress reduction program integrated into physical education classes for 200 students, split equally into control and experimental groups. The program included meditation, breathing exercises, and reflective practices. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in enjoyment of physical activity, measured by the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, and in academic performance on a 100-point grading scale over one semester. The control group showed no changes. The authors suggest integrating mindfulness training into university physical education to reduce stress and improve attitudes and grades, and recommend further research on long-term effects.