Effectiveness of an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Improving Mental Health in Undergraduate Students: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Fabiane Dolphine Fuentes Penachiotti, Mirian Yamaguchi, Bráulio Henrique Magnani Branco, Gabriela Alves, Felipe Rodrigues, Frederico Mariano, Adi Mana, Shifra Sagy, Rute Grossi Milani
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 30, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23070853 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn eight-week online mindfulness program improved positive mental health and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression among Brazilian undergraduate pedagogy students enrolled in distance education. Compared with a control group, the intervention also increased sense of coherence, resilience, and mindfulness while lowering perceived stress. The findings suggest that low-cost, scalable online mindfulness interventions can enhance mental health and reduce distress in higher education settings.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 317 |
| Population | Brazilian undergraduate pedagogy students enrolled in distance education |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Program for Undergraduate Students |
| Duration | Eight-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Mental health Randomized controlled trial Psychological intervention |
| Key finding | The online mindfulness intervention significantly improved positive mental health and reduced anxiety and depression compared with controls. |
Abstract
This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based intervention in improving positive mental health and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among undergraduate students, in the context of rising global mental health challenges and limited access to care, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. Brazilian undergraduate pedagogy students enrolled in distance education were randomly assigned (1:1) to an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Program for Undergraduate Students or a control group. Primary outcomes included positive mental health, anxiety, and depression, while secondary outcomes were sense of coherence, resilience, mindfulness, and perceived stress. Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. A total of 317 students were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 157) or the control group (n = 160), and 215 (67.8%) completed the study, with comparable baseline characteristics across groups. Compared with controls, the intervention significantly improved positive mental health and reduced anxiety and depression (all p < 0.001), while also increasing sense of coherence, resilience, and mindfulness and reducing perceived stress (all p < 0.05). These findings suggest that scalable, low-cost, online mindfulness interventions can simultaneously enhance positive mental health and reduce psychological distress, supporting their potential as preventive mental health strategies in higher education settings.