The Effect of Meditation on Mindfulness, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety in Nursing Students

This study reports the effects of a 4-week online mindfulness meditation practice in a sample of undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Self-reported levels of mindfulness, depression, stress, and anxiety were measured pre- and post-intervention. A randomized pretest posttest control group design was implemented, and members of the National Student Nurses Association were invited via email to participate. A total of 145 participants completed the study.During the study the active control group received audio modules reporting nursing news and the experimental group received audio meditation modules. Meditation modules were created and recorded by the researchers. Participants in both groups were asked to utilize the audio modules at least three times a week. All participants completed the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and the 39-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire online before and after the intervention. Results revealed a statistically significant interaction between group and time of test for all four outcome variables. Simple main effects analyses showed a reduction in symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety, as well as a significant increase in reported feelings of mindfulness in the experimental group. Findings of the study support the need to better recognize mental health challenges in nursing students and to consider the use of meditation practice in nursing programs to improve psychological outcomes