Aanapanasati Meditation and Stress Reduction Among Health Science University Students
Ormanee Patarathipakorn, K. K. Pawa, Pasakorn Sritipsukho, Kunn Tansuhaj, Kornkarn Bhamarapravatana, K. Suwannarurk
The Open Public Health Journal February 26, 2025 DOI: 10.2174/0118749445380247250225075656 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 28 |
| Population | First-year dental students at Thammasat University's Faculty of Dentistry with initial T-PSS-10 scores between 1 and 26 |
| Intervention | Anapanasati meditation training program (AMTP) |
| Duration | Four workshops in weeks 1, 4, 8, and 14; assessments one week before the study, at week 14, and at week 18 |
| Measures | Thai Perceived Stress Scale (T-PSS-10) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Anapanasati meditation training was associated with a significant reduction in stress among first-year dental students: mean T-PSS-10 scores dropped from 17.7 at baseline to 9.8 at week 14 and 8.4 at week 18. Participants also reported positive effects on academic focus, physical relaxation, and interpersonal relationships. |
Abstract
Stress is a key psychological issue that affects the physical and mental health of health science university students. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of stress reduction by AM among health science university students. This quasi-experimental study was conducted at Thammasat University's Faculty of Dentistry from August to December 2023. The subjects were first-year dental students who had an initial Perceived Stress Scale (T-PSS-10) between 1 and 26 and participated in the Anapanasati meditation training program (AMTP) focused on concentration meditation. Participants attended four AMTP workshops in weeks 1, 4, 8, and 14. Stress levels were assessed using T-PSS-10 one week before the study, in week 14 and week 18. Data analysis included descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and repeated measures ANOVA. Effect size and Bonferroni statistic were used for mean difference evaluation. A total of 28 participants were recruited for the study. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in stress levels among participants following the AMTP program. T-PSS-10 scores decreased from 17.7 to 9.8 and 8.4 at 14 and 18 weeks, respectively (t= 0.79 and 0.93, p<0.001). Qualitative feedback also indicated positive effects on academic focus, stress reduction, physical relaxation, and interpersonal relationships. AMTP helps healthcare science students reduce stress and enhance overall well-being.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effectiveness of Anapanasati Meditation on Internal Locus of Control, Psychological Well-being, Resilience and Altruism Among Orphan Adolescents. Annals of Neurosciences January 10, 2026
- Effectiveness of ANAPANA Mindfulness Meditation on Sustained Attention, Academic Self-Regulation, and Academic Performance Among Middle School Students Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics June 18, 2026
- Measuring the Impact of Meditation on Academic Stress Levels in UG Students Using Machine Learning Models International Conference on Computing for Sustainable Global Development April 8, 2026
Cites 22
- Effectiveness of training programs based on mindfulness in reducing psychological distress and promoting well-being in medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews May 5, 2023
- Defining Meditation: Foundations for an Activity-Based Phenomenological Classification System. Frontiers in Psychology 2021
- Improving stress management, anxiety, and mental well-being in medical students through an online Mindfulness-Based Intervention: a randomized study. Scientific Reports May 22, 2023
- App‐based mindfulness meditation reduces perceived stress and improves self‐regulation in working university students: A randomised controlled trial Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being December 27, 2021
- Predicting Individual Preferences in Mindfulness Techniques Using Personality Traits Frontiers in Psychology June 18, 2020
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