An Online Mindfulness Meditation Program as a Means for Mitigating Academic Stress among University Students

Paul Alan Arkin  Alvarado-García; Marilú Roxana  Soto-Vásquez; Lis Paola Reyes-Sánchez; Valeria Alexxandra  Sandoval-Bocanegra; Roberto Carlos  Ullón-Ramírez; Yovanny  Vargas-Fernández; Karin Alexandra  Inca-Reyes

doi:10.36941/ajis-2023-0159

Authors

Paul Alan Arkin Alvarado-García Professor, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo Av. Larco 1770, Trujillo, Peru
Marilú Roxana Soto-Vásquez Professor, Escuela de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo Av. Juan Pablo II, Trujillo, Peru
Lis Paola Reyes-Sánchez Student, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Larco 1770, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Valeria Alexxandra Sandoval-Bocanegra Student, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Larco 1770, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Roberto Carlos Ullón-Ramírez Student, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Larco 1770, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Yovanny Vargas-Fernández Student, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Larco 1770, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Karin Alexandra Inca-Reyes Student, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Av. Larco 1770, Trujillo 13001, Peru

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0159

Keywords:

mindfulness, academic stress, university students

Abstract

Academic stress is a significant challenge for students, influencing their performance and well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an online mindfulness meditation program in reducing academic stress among college students. A quasi-experimental study was conducted on a sample of 78 participants divided into an experimental group and a waiting list control group. Pre-test and post-test measurements were taken. The SISCO Academic Stress Inventory was used to assess academic stress. The experimental group evidenced statistically significant differences between study phases and groups after intervention for all examined variables (p<0.05). In addition, Cohen's D score revealed a significant magnitude effect. An adequate statistical power was also found (1-? = 0.99). Hence, implementing mindfulness meditation programs can potentially mitigate the academic stress levels experienced by university students.

Received: 9 July 2023 / Accepted: 8 October 2023 / Published: 5 November 2023