This study examined whether brief Sahaja Yoga Meditation (SYM) was associated with changes in perceived stress and resilience, and whether observed changes were robust across analytic samples. First- and second-semester undergraduate nursing students at a private U.S. health sciences university (January-May 2026). Single-group pre-post intervention study. Twenty-minute SYM sessions were...
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the comparative efficacy of two active mindfulness interventions, neurofeedback-assisted meditation and traditional guided meditation. A total of 137 undergraduates were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three, 8-week conditions: neurofeedback meditation (n = 51), traditional meditation (n = 46), or a passive control group (n = 40)....
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to qualitatively explore the perceived impacts of an undergraduate biology course that integrated mindfulness on student well-being. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 36 undergraduate students enrolled in the Mindful Physiology course in Spring 2023. METHODS: Thematic analysis was conducted on students' weekly written reflections on course content and mindfulness practice....
Objective: This study examines the mediating roles of two facets of decentering - self-as-context and cognitive defusion - in the relationship between mindfulness and stress among undergraduate students. Participants: 204 undergraduate students from a U.S. university participated in the study. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing self-report measures to assess mindfulness,...
Objective: This study explores the impact of a university for-credit mindfulness course on student well-being beliefs and behaviors, and the extent to which the course contributed to student self-efficacy in managing their well-being. Participants include university students who completed a 15-week Introduction to Mindfulness course during the years 2019-2024. Methods: Data were drawn from 522...
Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine whether participation in a hybrid mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) is associated with lower level of perceived stress, and higher levels of self-compassion and well-being. Participants: Participants were 73 students (Physician Assistant, Nursing, and Occupational Therapy) and faculty/staff in a Northeastern university. Methods: This study...
Objective: Most undergraduate students experience high stress levels, necessitating university support. Meditation-based programs can encourage student wellbeing. This research examined the feasibility of a for-credit undergraduate mindfulness course, its effectiveness in helping students develop a mindfulness practice, and its potential impact on healthy development. Participants: Twenty-nine...
Objective: To examine the impact of a mindful leadership training program on faculty well-being, mindfulness, and their ability to support student mental health. Participants: Forty-one university faculty members participated in a wait-list control trial. Methods: Surveys assessing mindfulness, stress, self-compassion, support, and beliefs about student well-being were administered at baseline,...
Journal of American College HealthApril 22, 2025Laura García-pérez, Maria Elena Atencia-Rodriguez, Mar Cepero-González et al.8 citations
University students face mental health (MH) issues like anxiety, depression, and stress, highlighting the need for effective interventions to improve well-being and academic success. This review examined 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2000 to 2023, following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 2,325 students, aged 18-25 without severe MH conditions, participated in physical activity (PA)...
Objective: This study addressed two research questions: (1) What is the feasibility of embedding curricular resilience micro-interventions across campus at a small university? (2) How do students and faculty describe their experiences of participating in resilience micro-interventions? Participants: 12 faculty, 267 students. Methods: Mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design. Faculty were...
Objective: Reviewed empirical studies involving meditation-related interventions for college and university students during the past decade. Methods: Based on inclusion criteria, 44 studies were selected for the review and categorized into three major areas: attention, academic performance, and mental health (stress/anxiety). Areas were systemically reviewed and synthesized. Results: Review...
Objective: To explore the effects of guided imagery with progressive deep muscle relaxation (PDMR) and meditation programs on chronic stress perception and health related quality of life in college students. Participants: College students were recruited from a local private university in Northeast Pennsylvania. Participants were not concurrently enrolled in another weekly meditation class....
Objective: To evaluate an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program's impact on university students' mental health. Participants: Undergraduate and graduate students. Methods: Ninety participants completed pre-, mid-, and post-program surveys. Mindfulness, Satisfaction with Life, Psychological Distress, and Perceived Stress scores were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA...
Objective: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reduces anxiety among undergraduate students; however, there is limited evidence demonstrating mechanistic underpinnings. Theoretical models implicate cognitive self-regulation as a mechanism. This study explored whether an adapted MBSR embedded in a college course reduced anxiety and if self-regulation mediated any intervention effects....
Objective: This study explored the differences in perceptions of stress levels and quality of life amongst college students enrolled in mindfulness meditation classes and those enrolled in an introductory holistic health class. Participants: 236 undergraduate students at a mid-sized university completed coursework and surveys. Methods: One-credit mindfulness meditation classes and an...
Objective: This study examined whether studying in a Consciousness-Based Education institution influenced college students' mental and physical health. Participants and methods: Undergraduate college students (n = 321) completed the Duke Health Profile, assessing 11 areas of mental and physical health, both as entering freshmen (2008-2014) and at graduation. The archived data was analyzed from...
Objective: The aims of this pilot study were: first, to assess the impact of a brief classroom-based mindfulness program on students' reported levels of mindfulness, well-being, and stress; and, second, to understand students' experiences of participating in the program.Participants: Students at a private midwestern research-intensive university, 133 (16%) students completed either the study's...
Media framing of health issues reflects public opinion and impacts readers' perceptions and behavior. This study examines how meditation - a recommended stress coping strategy for college students - is framed in campus newspapers from 1997-2018. A total of 494 articles were analyzed. Semantic network analysis was used to automatically detect frames and the longitudinal trend. Five major frames...
Objective: We examined the prevalence of sleep paralysis (SP), its association with stress and sleep, and associated subjective experiences and beliefs. Participants: 1,115 college students from a large university in the southwestern United States. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (94%) and female (70%). Methods: Validated measures of life-events stress, self-perceived stress, sleep...
Objective: The benefits of mindfulness-training and mentoring for college students have yet to be investigated. We aimed to provide an exploratory and descriptive account of their potential benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: In February 2020, 49 undergraduates (M = 20.51 years-old; 94% female) participated in a randomized trial of 12-week mentoring + mindfulness or...
Abstract This pilot study assessed the feasibility and combined effect of aerobic exercise (AE) and mindfulness meditation (MM), compared with MM alone and a control (CON) condition, on stress, anxiety, and depression in high-stress college-based young adults. Thirty-two participants (84.4% F, 20.5 ± 2.7 years, 23.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2) were randomized to a four-week, AE + MM (n = 16), MM (n = 10), or...
Abstract Objective The transition into college can pose barriers for student success. We examined the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) compared to an active and no treatment control group, respectively, on stressor appraisals, academic persistence, and performance in unversity students. Participants Students were randomly assigned to receive MBSR (n = 29), study skills active...
Objective: This study explores whether variability in the implementation of an undergraduate course on human flourishing is differentially associated with student outcomes. Participants: 101 students in the "Art and Science of Human Flourishing" course across three large, public, R1 universities in Fall 2018 participated in the study. Methods: Formative course data included researcher...
Objectives University students experience heightened levels of stress and are seeking mental health services with increasing frequency. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may be an effective resource for managing stress. The present study examined the effectiveness of an MBI in reducing stress, anxiety, and rumination compared to active and traditional control conditions.Methods...