Impact of Anapanasati Meditation on Well-being of Secondary School Students in Teesta, Kalimpong District, West Bengal
International Journal of Psychiatry Research August 31, 2025 DOI: 10.33425/2641-4317.1225 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAnapanasati meditation improved well-being among secondary school students in a rural area of West Bengal, India. In a 21-day guided intervention, students who practiced the meditation showed significant gains in emotional, psychological, social, spiritual, physical, and self-awareness dimensions compared to a control group. Qualitative reports described better sleep, less stress and overthinking, greater academic readiness, inner peace, and stronger peer relationships. The findings suggest that this low-cost, non-invasive practice can support adolescent mental health in school settings.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Mixed-methods convergent parallel design Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Secondary school students in Teesta, Kalimpong district, West Bengal |
| Intervention | Anapanasati meditation |
| Duration | 21-day guided meditation intervention |
| Keywords | Education Psychology |
| Key finding | Anapanasati meditation significantly improved multiple dimensions of well-being in the experimental group compared to the control group. |
Abstract
The study investigates the impact of Anapanasati meditation on the well-being of secondary school students in Teesta, Kalimpong district, West Bengal. Adolescents in rural areas often face rising stress, distraction, and emotional instability due to sociocultural and technological pressures. Employing a mixed-methods design with a convergent parallel approach, the study combined quantitative and qualitative data to assess changes in student well-being. Thirty-two students were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups, with the latter receiving a 21-day guided meditation intervention structured into grounding, breath anchoring, and mindfulness practice phases. The Well-being Index by Chauhan & Sharma was used to measure quantitative outcomes, while semi-structured interviews captured subjective experiences. Findings revealed significant improvements in the experimental group across multiple dimensions of well-being, such as emotional, psychological, social, spiritual, physical, and self-awareness. Thematic analysis of qualitative data further highlighted benefits such as improved sleep quality, reduced stress and overthinking, academic readiness, inner peace, and stronger peer bonding. The study concludes that Anapanasati meditation is an accessible, low-cost, and non-invasive intervention with substantial potential to support adolescent well-being in school settings.