A multicenter feasibility study on implementing a brief mindful breathing exercise into regular university courses.
Annika C Konrad, Veronika Engert, Reyk Albrecht, Christian Dobel, Nicola Döring, Jens Haueisen, Olga Klimecki, Mike Sandbothe, Philipp Kanske
Scientific Reports May 16, 2023 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34737-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preregistered multicenter observational study with an ABAB design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 325 |
| Population | University students (and their lecturers) in 19 courses at six German universities |
| Duration | Over one semester; weekly observations |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Breathing exercises Feasibility studies Students Universities |
| Key findings | The brief lecturer-guided mindfulness exercise, compared with no exercise, was associated with lower stress composite scores, higher presence composite scores, higher motivation for the courses, and better mood in students, with effects persisting throughout a course session. Lecturers also reported positive effects of instructing mindfulness, and the authors conclude that implementing the exercise in regular university teaching is feasible. |
Abstract
Practicing mindfulness is associated with stress reduction and with positive effects in the context of learning and teaching. Although effects on student populations have been studied extensively, there are few studies implementing mindfulness exercises in university courses directly. For this reason, we aimed to investigate whether the use of a brief mindfulness exercise in regular university courses, guided by the lecturers, is feasible and has immediate effects on the students' mental states. We conducted a preregistered multicenter study with one observational arm, following an ABAB design. In total, N = 325 students from 19 different university courses were included at baseline and n = 101 students at post measurement. Students were recruited by N = 14 lecturers located in six different universities in Germany. Lecturers started their courses either by guiding a brief mindfulness exercise (intervention condition) or as they regularly would, with no such exercise (control condition). In both conditions, the mental states of students and lecturers were assessed. Over the semester, n = 1193 weekly observations from students and n = 160 observations from lecturers were collected. Intervention effects were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models. The brief mindfulness exercise, compared to no such exercise, was associated with lower stress composite scores, higher presence composite scores, higher motivation for the courses, as well as better mood in students. Effects persisted throughout a respective course session. Lecturers also reported positive effects of instructing mindfulness. Implementing a brief mindfulness exercise in regular university teaching sessions is feasible and has positive effects on both students and lecturers.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The effect of 20-minute mindful breathing exercise on psychological well-being in epilepsy: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Epilepsy & Behavior June 1, 2024
- Exploring the Impact of Different Mindfulness Meditation Interventions on College Students' Resilience: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Stress and Health August 1, 2025
- Daily Breath-Based Mindfulness Exercises Improve Primary School Children’s Performance in Arithmetic: A Randomized Controlled Trial Research Square September 1, 2023
Cites 19
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
- Training Teachers to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Learning from the UK Experience Mindfulness April 26, 2010
- The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Neuropsychology Review August 4, 2021
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of current depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis Cognitive Behaviour Therapy February 8, 2019
and 14 more in the library