A Short Mindfulness Retreat for Students to Reduce Stress and Promote Self-Compassion: Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Exploring Both an Indoor and a Natural Outdoor Retreat Setting.
Dorthe Djernis, Mia S O'Toole, Lone O Fjorback, Helle Svenningsen, Mimi Mehlsen, Ulrika K Stigsdotter, Jesper Dahlgaard
Healthcare July 18, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9070910 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Danish university students experiencing moderate to high levels of stress |
| Intervention | Residential mindfulness programme indoors |
| Duration | 5-day residential programme; assessments at start, end, and 3-month follow-up |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Connectedness to Nature |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Stress reduction Self-compassion Retreat Nature-based mindfulness |
| Key findings | A 5-day residential mindfulness programme reduced stress with small to medium but non-significant effects and raised self-compassion non-significantly at post-intervention; at 3-month follow-up self-compassion increased in both intervention groups with medium effects. Connectedness to Nature was the only outcome showing an added benefit of the nature setting, with a medium effect at follow-up. |
Abstract
Here, we developed and examined a new way of disseminating mindfulness in nature to people without meditation experience, based on the finding that mindfulness conducted in natural settings may have added benefits. We evaluated a 5-day residential programme aiming to reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes. We compared an indoor and an outdoor version of the programme to a control group in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). Sixty Danish university students experiencing moderate to high levels of stress were randomised into a residential mindfulness programme indoors (n = 20), in nature (n = 22), or a control group (n = 18). Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale (primary outcomes) along with additional secondary outcome measures at the start and end of the program and 3 months after. Stress was decreased with small to medium effect sizes post-intervention, although not statistically significant. Self-compassion increased post-intervention, but effect sizes were small and not significant. At follow-up, changes in stress were not significant, however self-compassion increased for both interventions with medium-sized effects. For the intervention groups, medium- to large-sized positive effects on trait mindfulness after a behavioural task were found post-intervention, and small- to medium-sized effects in self-reported mindfulness were seen at follow-up. Connectedness to Nature was the only outcome measure with an incremental effect in nature, exceeding the control with a medium-sized effect at follow-up. All participants in the nature arm completed the intervention, and so did 97% of the participants in all three arms. Overall, the results encourage the conduct of a larger-scale RCT, but only after adjusting some elements of the programme to better fit and take advantage of the potential benefits of the natural environment.
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 15
- Limited Validity of Breath-Counting as a Measure of Mindfulness in Ruminative Adolescents. Psychophysiology May 1, 2025
- Transformative tourism experiences in spiritual retreats Current Issues in Tourism October 17, 2026
- How mindfulness and nature are conceptualised and integrated: A systematic review of nature-based mindfulness interventions Journal of Environmental Psychology September 30, 2026
- Does attention matter more than exposure? A pilot RCT of nature-based mindfulness for mental well-being and stress Frontiers in Psychology September 24, 2026
- Yoga and Meditation Improve Mental Health, with Outdoor Settings Offering Additional Benefits Where Differences Exist: A Systematic Review Ecopsychology September 17, 2026
and 10 more in the library
Cites 14
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- A mind you can count on: validating breath counting as a behavioral measure of mindfulness Frontiers in Psychology October 24, 2014
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Improving Health, Quality of Life, and Social Functioning in Adults Campbell Systematic Reviews 2012
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nature-Based Mindfulness: Effects of Moving Mindfulness Training into an Outdoor Natural Setting International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health September 2, 2019
and 9 more in the library