The interplay between mindfulness, depression, stress and academic performance in medical students: A Saudi perspective.
Ahmed M Alzahrani, Ahmed Hakami, Ahmad Alhadi, Mohammed A Batais, Abdullah A Alrasheed, Turky H Almigbal
PLoS One April 3, 2020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231088 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 289 |
| Population | Medical students from King Saud University |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Logistic models Stress, psychological Students, medical Saudi arabia Female Young adult Academic performance |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was inversely associated with depression and stress but not with academic performance. Mindfulness predicted both depression and stress in logistic regression, and the mindfulness subscales non-judging of inner experience and describing moderated the stress-depression relationship, suggesting mindfulness may buffer against depression in stressful environments. |
Abstract
There is a growing body of research that shows a significant association between mindfulness and mental health. However, studies on Saudi populations are still in their infancy. Mindfulness is a personal tendency to focus on the present time in a non-judgmental manner, including the interior and exterior experience of feelings and events. The first aim of this study is to examine the relationship between mindfulness, stress, depression, and academic performance in a sample of medical students from King Saud University. The second aim is to explore the potential moderation effects of mindfulness on the impact of stress on academic performance and depression in the study population. This cross-sectional study examined 289 medical students who were selected by a stratified random sampling technique and completed validated online questionnaires measuring mindfulness, stress, and depression. The data were analyzed using SAS version 9.2, and R software was used for graphs. Correlation analysis showed that mindfulness is inversely associated with depression and stress, but not with academic performance. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression showed that mindfulness can predict both depression and stress. We also found that two subscales of mindfulness can moderate the relation between stress and depression: non-judging of inner experience and describing. The findings suggest that a higher mindfulness score is associated with lower depression and stress levels and could buffer against depression in a stressful environment. There is a need for further research to investigate the relation of mindfulness with positive psychological outcomes, as well as experimental trials to examine the efficacy of mindfulness training on improving mental wellbeing in our community.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- The effectiveness of mindfulness training in improving medical students' stress, depression, and anxiety. PLoS One 2023
- Mindfulness predicts less depression, anxiety, and social impairment in emergency care personnel: A longitudinal study PLoS One December 15, 2021
- The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Burnout and Perceived Stress among Muslim Students: A Quasi-experimental Approach Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal May 20, 2023
- Preksha Dhyāna meditation induces alterations at the transcriptome level in novice and healthy college students Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences December 3, 2021
- The association between mindfulness, resilience, and academic achievement of pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia Frontiers in Public Health October 22, 2024
and 14 more in the library
Cites 4
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- The association between dispositional mindfulness, psychological well-being, and perceived health in a Swedish population-based sample. British Journal of Health Psychology March 8, 2011