Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep quality and academic stress of Chinese adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.
Frontiers in Psychology January 1, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1734353 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program improved sleep quality, reduced academic stress, and increased mindfulness in Chinese school adolescents. Forty-six students were randomly assigned to either the MBSR group (22 participants) or a no-intervention control group (24 participants). After the program, the MBSR group showed significant reductions in sleep quality and academic stress scores and a significant increase in mindfulness scores, while the control group showed no significant changes. The findings suggest MBSR may be a beneficial intervention for adolescents in school settings.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 46 |
| Population | Chinese school adolescents |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Keywords | Academic stress Adolescents Controlled trial Mindfulness-based stress reduction Sleep quality |
| Key finding | An 8-week MBSR program significantly improved sleep quality, reduced academic stress, and enhanced mindfulness in Chinese adolescents compared to a no-intervention control group. |
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on sleep quality and academic stress among Chinese school adolescents. A total of 46 students were recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=22), which participated in the 8-week MBSR program, or the control group (n=24), which received no intervention. Assessments using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Academic Stress Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Five Factors Mindfulness Scale (FFMQ) were conducted before and after the intervention period. Following the 8-week MBSR program, the experimental group demonstrated significant reductions in total scores for both sleep quality and academic stress, alongside a significant increase in total mindfulness score. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes in academic stress, sleep quality, or mindfulness scores over the same period. The findings indicate that the 8-week MBSR program effectively improved sleep quality, reduced academic stress, and enhanced mindfulness levels in Chinese adolescents, suggesting its potential as a beneficial intervention in school settings.