Sitting Meditation and Mindfulness Effects on Overall Anxiety and Test Anxiety Among College Students
John E. Lothes, Sara Matney, Zayne Naseer, Riley Pfyffer
Mind, Brain, and Education February 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12344 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | College students |
| Intervention | sitting meditation |
| Duration | 5-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Both the sitting meditation group and the wait-list control group showed significant within-group reductions in test anxiety, overall anxiety, and DASS scores after completing the mindfulness intervention. |
Abstract
AbstractResearch shows that mindfulness interventions for test anxiety in a college student population are beneficial (Lothes, Matney, & Naseer, 2022). This study assessed the effects of online mindfulness practices over a 5‐week period on anxiety and test anxiety in college students. Participants included 20 students that were randomly assigned to either a sitting meditation or a wait list control (WLC). A weekly schedule of mindfulness practices was given to participants to complete on their own for 5 weeks. The WLC did not do any mindfulness for the first 5 weeks. Participants in the both conditions showed significant within‐group reductions in test anxiety, overall anxiety, and DASS scores during their mindfulness interventions. Both groups also showed significant increases in FFMQ scores. Mindfulness may play a role in the reduction of anxiety and test anxiety. Further research is needed to assess how mindfulness may affect anxiety and test anxiety in college students.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Rumination and alexithymia serially mediate the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms in Chinese university students. Scientific Reports July 16, 2025
- The Effects of Mindfulness Practice on Anxiety and Test Anxiety in a College Student Population Utilizing a RCT and WLC. Psychological Reports July 7, 2025
- Enhancing psychological health and cognitive inhibition in college students: insights from mindfulness training and high-intensity interval training. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Digital mindfulness, trait anxiety, and psychological wellbeing: the chain mediating roles of emotion regulation and self-compassion Frontiers in Education March 16, 2026
- Mindfulness for test anxiety and negative self-evaluation in high school Current Psychology October 1, 2024
and 1 more in the library
Cites 6
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
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- The effectiveness of mindfulness training on coping with stress, exam anxiety, and happiness to promote health Journal of Education and Health Promotion May 31, 2021
- Feasibility of a Brief Online Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Intervention to Promote Mental Health Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic Mindfulness May 17, 2021
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