Using Meditation to Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Nursing students experience higher rates of mental health issues than other college students. This study examined the effect of a mindfulness meditation intervention on nursing students' levels of self-reported depression, stress, and anxiety. Method: This randomized, experimental study implemented an online mindfulness meditation intervention for an experimental group of nursing students and provided nursing news modules for a control group of nursing students. Participants in experimental and control groups completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale online before and after completing 4 weeks of audio modules. Results: Results showed a statistically significant decrease in reported scores for depression, stress, and anxiety in the experimental group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potential benefits of implementing an online mindfulness meditation intervention to support and improve mental health for nursing students. [ J Nurs Educ . 2023;62(8):443–449.]