Immediate mood changes and practice adherence during a self-directed SKT1 meditation program in university students: An intensive longitudinal study.
Sorachai Kamollimsakul, Suparpit Maneesakorn Von Bormann, Somporn Kantharadussadee Triamchaisri
PLoS One May 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0350556 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal within-person observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27 |
| Population | University students (19 female, 70.37%) |
| Intervention | Somporn Kantharadussadee Triamchaisri program (SKT1) |
| Duration | 28 sessions over 14 days |
| Measures | 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Longitudinal studies Stress, psychological Affect Students Universities Female Young adult |
| Key findings | Self-directed SKT1 practice was followed by an immediate decrease in negative mood of 0.572 points on a 0-10 scale (Cohen's d = 1.00), consistent across all 28 sessions and unrelated to practice adherence. Baseline stress showed a marginal trend toward mood reduction, while baseline anxiety and resilience were not significantly associated with outcomes. |
Abstract
Background: University students frequently report elevated stress, yet access to formal mental health services is often constrained. Self-directed mind-body practices, such as the Somporn Kantharadussadee Triamchaisri program (SKT1), may offer low-intensity mood management; however, real-world evidence based on repeated within-person assessments remains limited.
Objectives: To examine immediate within-session mood changes, practice adherence, temporal stability, and individual differences associated with self-directed SKT1 practice among university students.
Methods: Twenty-seven university students (n = 19 female, 70.37%) completed 28 self-directed SKT1 sessions over 14 days, yielding 710 within-person observations. Negative mood was rated on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) immediately before and after each session. Data were analyzed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM) with a Diagonal covariance structure, which provided a superior model fit compared to simpler variance components.
Results: Participants demonstrated high engagement, completing a mean of 26.3 sessions (SD = 2.8). LMM analysis revealed a highly significant decrease in negative mood immediately following SKT1 practice (b = 0.572, t(522.79) = 42.12, p < .001), representing a large effect size (Paired Cohen's d = 1.00, 95% CI [0.91, 1.09]). These immediate mood changes were consistently observed across all 28 sessions (p = .367) and did not vary by practice adherence (p = .587). While baseline stress showed a marginal trend toward mood reduction (b = -0.128, p = .074), baseline anxiety and resilience were not significantly associated with immediate outcomes.
Conclusions: Self-directed SKT1 practice might be associated with consistent, immediate mood reductions that are stable over time and accessible within this specific university sample. These preliminary findings suggest the potential of SKT1 as a feasible 'per-session' resource for supporting mood management among students in similar academic contexts. The protocol was registered in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20231016002).
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
- Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal Cell Reports Medicine 2023
- Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings. Nature Mental Health July 10, 2023
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of Neurocognitive Outcomes and Applications for Mental Health and Well-Being. Journal of Clinical Medicine March 3, 2025
- Mindfulness to improve the mental health of university students. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health 2023
and 3 more in the library