The effect of online mindfulness training on connectedness to oneself, to others and to nature in students
Petra Jansen, Sabine Hoja, Lea Cassar, Tim‐Michael Neu
University of Regensburg Publication Server 2026 DOI: 10.5283/epub.78934 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 173 |
| Population | University students |
| Intervention | online mindfulness training |
| Duration | 8-week training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Transformative learning Social connectedness Stress linguistics Training meteorology Mindfulness-based stress reduction Clinical psychology Mental health Applied psychology Psychotherapist Control management Developmental psychology |
| Key findings | Online mindfulness training significantly improved mindfulness, connectedness to nature, and self-compassion but did not significantly affect stress reduction, flourishing, state mindfulness, or prosociality compared to a control group. |
Abstract
These days, students experience a significant amount of stress at university. According to the planetary health concept, internal transformative qualities, such as connectedness, may be essential for enhancing individual well-being and promoting sustainable behaviour. This randomised controlled study investigated whether online mindfulness training can enhance well-being and connectedness. One hundred seventy-three students completed measurements of stress reduction, flourishing, state mindfulness, self-compassion, prosociality and connectedness to nature before and after the 8-week training or the waiting time. The analyses of variances showed a significant improvement in mindfulness (F[1, 170] = 5.116, p < .05, partial η2 = .029), connectedness to nature (F[1, 171] = 6.838, p < .05, partial η2 = .038) and self-compassion (F[1, 171] = 11.019, p < .01, partial η2 = .061) in the mindfulness group compared to the control group but not in the other dependent measurements. Furthermore, the improvement in self-compassion and mindfulness from the pretest to the posttest predicted 35.7% and 33.9%, respectively, of the reduction in perceived stress and improvement in flourishing. Since the mindfulness training only improved some aspects of transformative qualities, it is necessary to investigate the moderators of the relation between mindfulness, internal transformative qualities and sustainable behaviour and attitudes in greater depth.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |