Behavioral Activation, Mindfulness Exercises, and Loving-Kindness Meditation Exercises as Effective Therapies to Reduce Stress among Nursing Students’ during COVID-19 Pandemic
Dwi Mulianda, Ainnur Rahmanti, Margiyati Margiyati, N. Sari, Endro Haksara, Satriya Pranata
Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences March 7, 2022 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.8695 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre-test-post-test design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 83 |
| Population | Level II Indonesian nursing students at Stikes Kesdam IV/Diponegoro who met inclusion criteria |
| Interventions | Behavioral activation Mindfulness exercises Loving-kindness meditation exercise |
| Duration | 4-week data collection period (April–May 2021) |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | After behavioral activation, mindfulness exercises, and loving-kindness meditation exercises, mean Perceived Stress Scale scores decreased from 16.66 to 14.76 (mean difference 1.90), and the dependent t-test indicated a significant pre–post difference (p < 0.05). The authors recommend these practices as stress-coping mechanisms for Indonesian nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could increase stress which will impact the student’s achievement during the pandemic situation.
Aim: The purpose of the study was to analyze stress among Indonesian nursing students’ after giving the interventions of behavioral activation (BA), mindfulness exercises (ME), and loving-kindness meditation exercise (LKME) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre-test-post-test design. Data collection has been conducted in 4 weeks’ period on April–May 2021 using consecutive sampling. The sample of this study was 83 respondents in Level II of Indonesian nursing students at Stikes Kesdam IV/Diponegoro who have fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The instrument used was the Perceived Stress Scale.
Results: The majority of respondents are women, namely, 64 respondents (77.1%). After being given the intervention of BA, ME, and LKME, respondents decreased their stress with a mean of 16.66 became 14.76. The dependent t-test showed that the p value was 0.000 (p < 0.05), which means that there was a significance difference in stress pre- and post-intervention. The mean difference was 1.90 and the paired difference t-test was 0.000 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: BA, MEs, and LKME are recommended as stress coping mechanisms for Indonesian nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- The Role of Mindfulness in Reducing the Adverse Effects of Childhood Stress and Trauma Children February 28, 2017
- Mindfulness and Loving-Kindness Meditation Psychological Reports January 6, 2017
- The Influence of Mindfulness on the Decreasing Anxiety in Nursing Students to Support Academic Learning: A Literature Review Holistic Nursing and Health Science July 10, 2018
and 2 more in the library