Pilot study on the effect of a Meditation-Mindfulness-Positive Psychology Training program on perceived stress and mental well-being in Korean nursing students: A mixed methods analysis.
Young Im Cho, Hyo Jin Kim, Dong Hee Kim
PLoS One 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345139 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-methods pilot study Longitudinal Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Junior and senior nursing students in Korea |
| Interventions | Meditation Mindfulness Gratitude journaling Self-compassion practice |
| Duration | Six-session online program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The adapted online MMPT program significantly improved gratitude disposition, self-compassion, and perceived stress among nursing students, but did not significantly improve mindfulness or overall mental health. |
Abstract
Nursing students experience stress that negatively affects their mental well-being and academic performance. Conventional mindfulness-based interventions are too long to fit the students' demanding schedules. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an adapted Meditation-Mindfulness-Positive Psychology Training (MMPT) program tailored to nursing students' needs. The program was designed as to be shorter, to be conducted online, and to be tailored to the needs of nursing students. A mixed-methods pilot study was conducted among junior and senior nursing students in Korea. The experimental group participated in a six-session online MMPT program into which meditation, mindfulness, gratitude journaling, and self-compassion practice were incorporated. Quantitative outcomes were assessed before and after intervention. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed through inductive content analysis. The quantitative results showed significant improvements in gratitude disposition, self-compassion, and perceived stress, but not in mindfulness or overall mental health. Qualitative findings complemented these results by revealing perceived improvements across all target domains, with participants reporting enhanced calmness, greater self-kindness, increased positivity, and stronger coping strategies. Students highlighted the value of gratitude journaling, compassion-based exercises, and supportive peer interactions, which reinforced their engagement and sense of belonging. The MMPT program adapted for this study demonstrated feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in reducing stress and enhancing positive psychological resources among nursing students. By integrating mindfulness and positive psychology into a brief and accessible format, this study underscores the theoretical and practical value of needs-based interventions for supporting nursing students' well-being. Further large-scale and longitudinal studies are warranted to validate and extend these findings.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- In search of durable positive psychology interventions: Predictors and consequences of long-term positive behavior change The Journal of Positive Psychology September 1, 2010
- Sustainable benefits of mindfulness training in health professions education. BMC Medical Education March 27, 2025
- The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alleviating academic burnout in medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health May 27, 2024
- A New Second-Generation Mindfulness-Based Intervention Focusing on Well-Being: A Randomized Control Trial of Mindfulness-Based Positive Psychology Journal of Happiness Studies April 2, 2022
and 2 more in the library