The Effect of Meditation on Stress Reduction among College Students: A Quantitative Study
Juliana Batubara, Roma Sinta, Firta Panjaitan
Acta Psychologia January 30, 2025 DOI: 10.35335/psychologia.v3i4.70 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | College students |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness meditation Mental health Stress linguistics Perceived stress scale Mental stress Clinical psychology Scale ratio Mindfulness-based stress reduction Stress management Applied psychology |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | A significant reduction in perceived stress levels occurred after an 8-week meditation program, with participants also reporting improved emotional regulation, focus, and academic performance. |
Abstract
This study examines the effect of meditation on stress reduction among college students. The increasing prevalence of stress-related issues in academic environments has raised concerns about the mental health and well-being of students. Meditation, particularly mindfulness practices, has been widely studied for its potential to alleviate stress and enhance emotional resilience. This research aims to assess whether regular meditation can reduce perceived stress levels and improve overall well-being in college students. A total of 60 college students participated in an 8-week meditation program, with pre- and post-intervention stress levels measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The results indicated a significant reduction in stress levels following the meditation intervention, with participants reporting improved emotional regulation, focus, and academic performance. These findings suggest that meditation can serve as an effective and accessible tool for managing stress among college students. The study highlights the importance of incorporating mindfulness practices into student wellness programs, offering a low-cost, sustainable approach to promoting mental health in academic settings. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of meditation and its applicability across diverse student populations.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |