Online Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Korean Military Students’ Experiential Perspectives

An online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for South Korean soldiers taking university courses showed potential benefits for psychological and physical well-being. Over 16 weeks, 16 students watched weekly videos and kept meditation journals; nine consented to participate. Thematic analysis of journals revealed two main themes: personal process (comfort, normalization, intent to continue) and outcomes (physiological benefits, physical and mental self-awareness). The findings suggest online MBIs can support resilience in high-stress military environments, though further research is needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract:Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been applied across various fields, notably in education. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition of their application to online formats. While this type of delivery may be especially valuable in military settings given their unique constraints, research in Korea has been limited. The current study describes the first online MBI offered as a semester-credit course for undergraduate students at a civilian public university who are taking online classes while serving in the Korean military and explores participant experiences with and outcomes of the MBI. During a 16 week period, 16 students viewed weekly videos and, during the final 10 weeks, completed meditation journals three times per week. The curriculum included body scan, relaxation, breath awareness, selective attention, self-compassion, and mindful daily living, delivered through guided meditations, recorded sessions, creative activities, and instructor feedback. Nine students gave consent to be participants in the study. A data-driven, thematic analysis of the nine students’ journals examined immediate post-meditation experiences, bodily sensations, breath awareness, and integration through journaling. Two primary themes emerged: personal process and outcomes experienced. The first theme highlights a common personal process through which students developed a meaningful relationship with their introduction to mindfulness practices, including subthemes of comfort level, normalization, and intent to continue. The second theme identified outcome subthemes related to physiological benefits, physical self-awareness, and mental self-awareness. Findings suggest online MBIs can support psychological and physical well-being in high-stress military environments. The study highlights the potential of such programs to promote resilience and health in these unique environments and the need for further research in military populations.