Multi-year investigation of a relaxation course with a mindfulness meditation component on college students' stress, resilience, coping and mindfulness

Objective:
Examine the effects of a relaxation course with a mindfulness meditation component in a two-group pre-test and post-test non-randomized study design.

Participants:
Participants included 219 undergraduate students (experimental group: n = 103; control group: n = 116), 18-43 years old.

Methods:
Completion of measures of stress, resilience, coping and mindfulness at the beginning and end of the intervention.

Results:
The independent sample t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in stress and maladaptive coping, and an increase in resilience in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Conclusion:
Benefits were observed following the intervention by positively impacting factors associated with increased functioning in life. Classroom-based interventions could be considered beneficial for students.

Keywords: Academic course; adaptive coping; college students; maladaptive coping; mindfulness meditation; resilience; stress.

PMID: 34670109 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1987918