The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Burnout and Perceived Stress among Muslim Students: A Quasi-experimental Approach
Aamer Aldbyani, Mohammed Hasan Ali Al-Abyadh
Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal May 20, 2023 DOI: 10.25217/igcj.v6i1.3467 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 160 |
| Population | Yemeni university students |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation training |
| Measures | Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation training reduced emotional exhaustion, cynicism, lack of academic efficacy, and perceived stress among Yemeni students compared with a control group that received no training. The authors suggest such training could help decrease academic problems among Muslim students. |
Abstract
Mindfulness occurs in different populations, regardless of their religions, ages, and cultures, but the studies on Muslim backgrounds are insufficient. This study aims to empirically investigate mindfulness's benefits on academic outcomes among Yemeni students. A total of 160 Yemeni students were recruited to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and divided into two groups (experimental group = 80, control group = 80). The experimental group received mindfulness training, while the control group did not receive any training. After the experiment, both groups completed the questionnaires again. The results revealed that the experimental group's emotional exhaustion, cynicism, lack of academic efficacy, and perceived stress were decreased compared to the control group. We concluded that mindfulness meditation training decreased academic burnout and stress among Yemeni students. We suggest mindfulness meditation training could be a good program for decreasing academic problems among Muslim students.
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
Cited by 4
- Mindfulness and trauma recovery among internally displaced individuals: the mediating role of distress tolerance in a cross-sectional mediation model Frontiers in Psychology September 24, 2025
- Muslims and Mindfulness Training: Teachers’ and Trainees’ Perspectives Mindfulness July 3, 2026
- Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of mindfulness during worship scale (MWS) among medical students. BMC Psychology November 28, 2025
- Barriers and Facilitators of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Muslims in the UK Mindfulness May 1, 2025
Cites 9
- Muslim Students' Dispositional Mindfulness and Mental Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Core Self-Evaluation Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal April 15, 2022
- Prayers and Mindfulness in Relation to Mental Health among First-Generation Immigrant and Refugee Muslim Women in the USA: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Religion and Health June 24, 2022
- The Relationship between Mindful Attention Awareness, Perceived Stress and Subjective Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health November 23, 2021
- The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Burnout in Nurses Journal of Holistic Nursing May 17, 2021
- The interplay between mindfulness, depression, stress and academic performance in medical students: A Saudi perspective. PLoS One April 3, 2020
and 4 more in the library