The effect of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program on depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive flexibility in nursing students: A randomized clinical trial.
Journal of Professional Nursing 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.12.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Nursing students |
| Intervention | Online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive flexibility Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Nursing student Stress |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key findings | The online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and increased cognitive flexibility among nursing students. |
Abstract
It is known that the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of the nursing students are higher compared to the general student population. Nursing educators should use evidence-based, effective, and innovative interventions to help students recognize and reduce their mental symptoms. This study aimed to determine the effect of the online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program, which was implemented for nursing students, on depression, anxiety, stress and cognitive flexibility levels. This randomized controlled trial study adopted a pretest-posttest-follow-up test research design. As a result of the analyses, the intervention group had lower scores in the post-test and follow-up test measurements of the depression, anxiety and stress dimensions of the Depression-Anxiety and Stress Scale compared to the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between them (p < 0.05). The post-test and follow-up test Cognitive Flexibility Inventory scores of intervention students were higher than those of the students in the control group and there was a statistically significant difference between them (p < 0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that this program can reduce depression, anxiety, stress and increase cognitive flexibility levels among nursing students.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Mindfulness training in DNP education: Enhancing leadership and well-being Journal of Professional Nursing July 1, 2026
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety and depression among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis Clinical Psychologist February 9, 2026
- Benefits of mindfulness-based interventions on stress and anxiety among undergraduate nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today August 25, 2026
- Effects of a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention on stress, psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy among nursing students in Somalia: A randomized controlled trial. Nurse Education in Practice June 3, 2026
- Impact of mindfulness-based interventions on stress, anxiety and depression among nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education in Practice May 1, 2026
Cites 13
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Theory and Practice The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2012
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: a promising new approach to preventing depressive relapse The British Journal of Psychiatry May 1, 2012
- Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy: An efficacy study for mental health care staff Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing May 21, 2018
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Industrial Psychiatry Journal October 29, 2024
and 8 more in the library