The Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation on Trait Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, Cortisol, and C-Reactive Protein in Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Hossam Alhawatmeh, Mohammad J Rababa, Mahmoud A. Alfaqih, Raya Albataineh, I. Hweidi, Awwad Abu Awwad
Advances in Medical Education and Practice January 1, 2022 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s348062 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractFive 30-minute weekly sessions of mindfulness meditation significantly reduced serum cortisol levels and perceived stress in nursing students compared to a quiet-sitting control group. The meditation also lowered C-reactive protein and increased trait mindfulness, but those changes were not statistically significant. The findings support incorporating mindfulness meditation into nursing education to help manage stress and improve immune function in this high-stress population.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 108 |
| Population | Nursing students at a large university in Jordan |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 5 weekly sessions of 30 minutes each |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Registration | NCT05099224 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness meditation significantly decreased serum cortisol levels and perceived stress in nursing students. |
Abstract
Purpose Mindfulness meditation was used to reduce stress and its responses such as cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP) among healthy and ill individuals in various cultures, but its effect has not yet been studied among nursing students, experiencing tremendous stress. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of mindfulness meditation on trait mindfulness, perceived stress, serum cortisol, and serum C-reactive proteins (CRP) in nursing students. Patients and Methods Using a two-arm, randomized, parallel study (conducted in a large university in Jordan, 108 nursing students were randomly assigned to experimental group receiving five 30-minute weekly sessions of mindfulness meditation and control group sitting quiet during the experimental sessions. Trait mindfulness, perceived stress, serum cortisol, and CRP were measured at baseline and end of the intervention. Results Using one-way MANOVA and post-hoc comparisons, the results showed that mindfulness meditation was significantly effective in decreasing serum cortisol levels and perceived stress. The mindfulness meditation also decreased CRP and increased trait mindfulness although the results did not reach statistically significant levels. Conclusion These findings underscore the need for serious consideration of mindfulness meditation in nursing colleges to improve stress and raise immunity in this vulnerable population. Trial Registration Mindfulness Meditation for Nursing Students: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT05099224.