The integration of meditation into higher education: a systematic literature review.
Steve Haberlin, Terrie Bradshaw
Journal of American College Health January 15, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2451974 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 44 |
| Population | College and university students |
| Intervention | meditation-related interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention: meditation Mental health Stress |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Meditation interventions show more conclusive evidence for improving attention and reducing stress and anxiety than for improving academic performance in college students. |
Abstract
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 findings suggest that, while appearing to have inconsistent impacts on academic performance, meditation practice with college students demonstrates more conclusive evidence in regard to attention including mind-wandering and the reduction of stress and anxiety.
Conclusion: Meditation interventions continue to show promise as alternative treatments for mental health on campuses. However, well-designed studies are still needed to answer questions on meditation practices with students, including dosage, specific techniques, and impact on diverse populations.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The mindful professor: the impacts of an innovative mindfulness training intervention for college faculty. Journal of American College Health May 22, 2025
- Integrating mindfulness into the academic curriculum: A qualitative study. Journal of American College Health June 5, 2025
- Practicing Loving-Kindness Meditation to Promote Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Study of Doctoral Students' Experience International journal of doctoral studies 2025
Cites 23
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering Psychological Science March 28, 2013
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet Public Health December 18, 2017
and 18 more in the library