Effect of a mindfulness program on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction: a quasi-experimental study in college students.
Paul Alan Arkin Alvarado-García, Marilú Roxana Soto-Vásquez, Francisco Mercedes Infantes Gomez, Natalia Mavila Guzman Rodriguez, William Gil Castro-Paniagua
Frontiers in Psychology 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1508934 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 128 |
| Population | University students |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation program |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | College students Life satisfaction Sleep quality Social support Stress |
| Citations | 23 |
| Key findings | A 12-session mindfulness program significantly reduced stress, anxiety, and depression and improved sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction among university students. |
Abstract
The university experience often brings various personal and academic challenges that can negatively impact students' mental health. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of a mindfulness program on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction among university students. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 128 participants, divided into experimental and waiting list control groups. The experimental group participated in a mindfulness meditation program consisting of 12 weekly sessions. Pre-test and post-test measurements were performed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to assess the variables. The experimental group showed statistically significant differences between the study phases and the groups after the intervention for all the variables examined (p < 0.05). The effect sizes calculated using the HC3 model were stress (η 2 = 0.376), anxiety (η 2 = 0.538), depression (η 2 = 0.091), sleep quality (η 2 = 0.306), social support (η 2 = 0.704), and life satisfaction (η 2 = 0.510). The mindfulness program was shown to be effective in reducing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression while also improving sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction in college students. These findings indicate that mindfulness meditation may be valuable for enhancing psychological well-being in educational settings.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Does emotional intelligence mediates workplace stress, mindfulness, person-job-fit, and mental health among bank employees Frontiers in Psychology August 26, 2026
- Autonomic and psychophysiological effects of a 13-week mindfulness-based intervention in university students Frontiers in Psychology February 4, 2026
- The role of mindfulness programs in reducing student anxiety and stress Kontakt January 16, 2026
- The Intersection of Spirituality and Medicine in Buddhist India: A Comprehensive Analysis of Traditional Healing Systems and Contemporary Healthcare Integration International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology August 20, 2025
- Effect of mindfulness breathing versus acupoint stimulation on anxiety, fatigue, and sleep quality among children undergoing stem cell transplantation: a three-arm randomized controlled trial Frontiers in Medicine October 14, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 26
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Interoception, contemplative practice, and health Frontiers in Psychology June 9, 2015
- The Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory: Extensions, Applications, and Challenges at the Attention–Appraisal–Emotion Interface Psychological Inquiry October 2, 2015
- A mindfulness-based mobile health (mHealth) intervention among psychologically distressed university students in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology July 15, 2021
- Brief mindfulness-based training and mindfulness trait attenuate psychological stress in university students: a randomized controlled trial BMC Psychology February 1, 2021
and 21 more in the library