Effects of a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention on stress, psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy among nursing students in Somalia: A randomized controlled trial.
Fadime Koyuncu, Bugse Yuceer
Nurse Education in Practice June 3, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2026.104888 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 44 |
| Population | Undergraduate nursing students in Somalia |
| Intervention | Culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | Three-week intervention; data collected at baseline and immediately post-intervention |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Short Form, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Stress, psychological Self efficacy Education, nursing, baccalaureate Students, nursing Somalia Female Resilience, psychological Young adult Surveys and questionnaires Randomized controlled trial Nursing students Culturally adapted intervention Academic self-efficacy |
| Key findings | A three-week culturally adapted online mindfulness-based intervention was associated with reduced perceived stress and increased psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students in Somalia, with significant group-by-time interaction effects (p < 0.001) for all three outcomes; the control group showed no significant changes. |
Abstract
Aim: To examine the effects of a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention on perceived stress, psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students in Somalia.
Background: Nursing students experience high levels of academic and clinical stress, which may negatively affect psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy. Although mindfulness-based interventions improve student well-being, evidence from low-resource and conflict-affected settings remains limited.
Design: Randomized controlled trial
Methods: A total of 44 undergraduate nursing students were recruited from a nursing faculty in Somalia and randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 22) or a control group (n = 22). The intervention group participated in a three-week, culturally adapted mindfulness-based programme delivered online, while the control group continued routine academic activities. Data were collected at baseline and immediately post-intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Short Form and the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale. Data were analysed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: Significant group × time interaction effects were observed for perceived stress, psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy (p < 0.001). Compared with the control group, students in the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in perceived stress and significant increases in psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy over time. No significant changes were observed in the control group across the study period.
Conclusions: A culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention was associated with improvements in reducing perceived stress and enhancing psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students in a low-resource educational setting.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet Public Health December 18, 2017
- Mindfulness Abilities Are Associated with Anxiety Levels, Emotional Intelligence, and Perceived Self-Efficacy Sustainability March 7, 2023
- The effect of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program on depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive flexibility in nursing students: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Professional Nursing 2025
- Long-term effects of an online mindfulness intervention on mental health in Chinese nursing students: a randomized controlled trial follow-up. BMC Public Health February 19, 2025
- Reflective mindfulness and emotional regulation training to enhance nursing students’ self-awareness, understanding, and regulation: a mixed method randomized controlled trial BMC Nursing April 30, 2025
and 2 more in the library