An Eight-Week Zen Meditation and Music Programme for Mindfulness and Happiness: Qualitative Content Analysis.
Mi Hyang Hwang, Leslie Bunt, Catherine Warner
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 4, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20237140 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | University music therapy students |
| Interventions | Zen meditation music listening |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Contemplation Guided practice Inner focus Mental well-being Happiness Wellness Emotional health Inner peace Contentment Positive outlook Stress reduction Calm Relaxation Tranquility De-stress Serenity Personal growth Self-improvement Inner transformation Self-development Positive change Self-discovery |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | An 8-week Mindfulness Meditation programme combining Zen meditation and music listening is a potential approach for enhancing mindfulness, happiness and stress management. |
Abstract
Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness programmes have been explored to provide students with pleasant and satisfying experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on the mindfulness and happiness levels of university music therapy students. A qualitative methodology was used, and data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. To investigate various aspects of data regarding the role of the meditation and music (MM) programme for mindfulness and happiness, this study used thematic analysis within a qualitative research design. The findings of this study suggest that the 8-week Mindfulness Meditation (MM) programme is a potential approach for enhancing mindfulness, happiness and stress management. These results carry broader implications, particularly in terms of supporting mental health resources in higher education. Furthermore, the study contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the positive impact of combining meditation and music to promote mental well-being. This integrated approach has the potential to strengthen coping strategies and further promote the integration of music and meditation practices in various contexts, including higher education.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... | 2017 | Qualitative study with mixed-methods | |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Anger regulation in traumatized Cambodian refugees: the perspectives of Buddhist monks. Buddhist Cambodian monks in Massachusetts | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 6 |
| The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators | 2018 | Qualitative study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Music mindfulness acutely modulates autonomic activity and improves psychological state in anxiety and depression. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2025
- The Impacts of Background Music on the Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Positive Emotions. Behavioral Sciences March 4, 2024
- A quasiexperimental study of assessing the impact of stress management program on health science students at Kuwait University. Scientific Reports May 12, 2025
- The Changes in Brain Waves in Monks and Nuns During Zen Meditation in Two Vietnamese Zen Truc Lam Monasteries Pastoral Psychology May 28, 2026
- Feelings of Reality: Toward a Phenomenology of Experiential Realness Review of General Psychology July 23, 2026
Cites 31
- Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Buddha's Brain: Neuroplasticity and Meditation [In the Spotlight] IEEE Signal Processing Magazine 2008
- Using Mindfulness Meditation to Teach Beginning Therapists Therapeutic Presence: A Qualitative Study Journal of Marital and Family Therapy May 27, 2010
- Mindfulness, attention, and flow during music listening: An empirical investigation Psychology of Music September 27, 2011
- Long-term mindfulness training is associated with reliable differences in resting respiration rate Scientific Reports June 7, 2016
and 26 more in the library