Effects of Mindfulness Intervention on Anxiety among Female Nursing Students: Mindfulness Intervention on Anxiety among Female Nursing Students

Yasir Ali; Arzoo Babar; Roma William; Farzana Imran; Alveena Yousuf

doi:10.54393/nrs.v6i2.242

Authors

Yasir Ali Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan
Arzoo Babar College of Nursing, Qatar College of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan
Roma William College of Nursing, Qatar College of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan
Farzana Imran College of Nursing, Qatar College of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan
Alveena Yousuf College of Nursing, Qatar College of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/nrs.v6i2.242

Keywords:

Effects, Mindfulness Intervention, Anxiety, Nursing Students

Abstract

Nursing students face higher levels of stress and anxiety than other college students due to the combined pressures of classroom and clinical responsibilities, and meditation is the process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. Objective: To examine the impact of mindfulness intervention on nursing students' anxiety at a public sector college of nursing. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-single group study was conducted at a public sector female nursing institute, including 32 nursing students of BS Nursing, while students from the auxiliary nursing discipline were excluded from the study. The duration of the study was 6 months (November 2025 to April 2026) after the required approvals. Sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1.9.4 with a paired sample t-test at a 5% level. The final sample size was 32, after adding a 10% attrition rate. A stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data. Furthermore, written informed consent was obtained, and confidentiality and privacy were protected. Data were analysed through SPSS version 21.0. Appropriate statistical tests were applied for the analysis. Results: The mean BAI score reduced significantly from 36.68 ± 6.79 to 21.26 ± 4.47 following the intervention, with a statistically significant reduction (p<0.001). Overall, the intervention was successful in lowering anxiety across the majority of demographic features. Conclusions: The results of the study showed a statistically significant reduction in the level of anxiety following the intervention; for that reason, mindfulness could be included in routine activities of the nursing students.

References

Heinrich DS and O’Connell KA. The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Nursing Students’ Stress and Anxiety Levels. Nursing Education Perspectives. 2024 Jan; 45(1): 31-6. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001159.

Torné-Ruiz A, Reguant M, Roca J. Mindfulness for Stress and Anxiety Management in Nursing Students in a Clinical Simulation: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Nurse Education in Practice. 2023 Jan; 66: 103533. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103533.

Altıntaş S, Çelik S, Karahan E, Uçar Ö, Yücel M. Investigation of the Relationship Between the Self-Efficacy Levels in Clinical Practice and Coping Behaviours with Stress Among International Nursing Students. Nurse Education Today. 2024 Dec; 143: 106366. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106366.

Dias JM, Subu MA, Al-Yateem N, Ahmed FR, Rahman SA, Abraham MS et al. Nursing Students’ Stressors and Coping Strategies During Their First Clinical Training: A Qualitative Study in the United Arab Emirates. BioMed Central Nursing. 2024 May; 23(1): 322. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-01962-5.

Lee SE, Lee HJ, Dahinten VS, Seo WJ, Lim H, Kim H. Patient Safety in the ‘Room of Horrors’ Simulation: A Multi-Method Study of Student, Novice, And Experienced Nurses. BioMed Central Nursing. 2025 Aug; 24(1): 1044. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03700-x.

Karakurt N and Durmaz H. The Impact of Mindfulness Intervention on the Subjective Well-Being of Nursing Students: An Experimental Study. BioMed Central Psychology. 2025 Aug; 13(1): 955. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03334-3.

Liu YL, Lee CH, Wu LM. A Mindfulness-Based Intervention Improves Perceived Stress and Mindfulness in University Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Scientific Reports. 2024 Jun; 14(1): 13220. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-64183-5.

Veigh CM, Reid J, Carswell C, Ace L, Walsh I, Graham-Wisener L et al. Mindfulness as a Well-Being Initiative for Future Nurses: A Survey with Undergraduate Nursing Students. BioMed Central Nursing. 2021 Dec; 20(1): 253. doi: 10.1186/s12912-021-00783-0.

Si XW, Yang ZK, Feng X. A Meta-Analysis of the Intervention Effect of Mindfulness Training on Athletes’ Performance. Frontiers in Psychology. 2024 May; 15: 1375608. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1375608.

Conversano C, Orru G, Pozza A, Miccoli M, Ciacchini R, Marchi L et al. Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Effective for People with Hypertension? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 30 Years of Evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 Mar; 18(6): 2882. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18062882.

Mi Y, Wang Z, Peng L, Zhang C, Xu H. Exploring the Impact of Interpersonal Sensitivity on Anxiety Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital and Social Support Among Nursing Students. BioMed Central Psychology. 2025 Mar; 13(1): 290. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02621-3.

Salim S and Siddiqui S. Determining the Psychometric Properties of Siddiqui Anxiety Scale-Revised. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research. 2021 Jun; 36(2): 319-34. doi: 10.33824/PJPR.2021.36.2.18.

Rizwan M, Abdi SK, Amjad N, Yaqoob R, Mujtaba M, Faiz A. Disparities of Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students. Clinical and Counselling Psychology Review. 2024 Jun; 6(1): 80-93. doi: 10.32350/ccpr.61.05.

Alsaqer K, Al-Maghaireh D, Kawafha M, Sheyab H, Al Kofahi A, Saleh M. The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Mindfulness among Undergraduate Nursing Students in the Psychiatric Clinical Practice. Mindfulness. 2025 May; 16(5): 1250-7. doi: 10.1007/s12671-025-02559-y.

Ghafoor M and Lodhi MK. Determinants of Psychosocial Reactions in University Students Post Covid-19: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Pakistan Psychiatric Society. 2023 Dec; 20(04): 26-30. doi: 10.63050/jpps.20.04.288.

Tinto V. Through the Eyes of Students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice. 2017 Nov; 19(3): 254-69. doi: 10.1177/1521025115621917,

Zhao B, Wang Q, Wang L, Chen J, Yin T, Zhang J et al. Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depressive Disorders: A Meta-Analysis. Annals of General Psychiatry. 2023 Sep; 22(1): 34. doi: 10.1186/s12991-023-00462-1.

Goldberg SB, Riordan KM, Sun S, Davidson RJ. The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 2022 Jan; 17(1): 108-30. doi: 10.1177/1745691620968771.

Firth J, Solmi M, Wootton RE, Vancampfort D, Schuch FB, Hoare E et al. A Meta‐Review of “Lifestyle Psychiatry”: The Role of Exercise, Smoking, Diet and Sleep in the Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders. World Psychiatry. 2020 Oct; 19(3): 360-80. doi: 10.1002/wps.20773.

Leichsenring F, Steinert C, Rabung S, Ioannidis JP. The Efficacy of Psychotherapies and Pharmacotherapies for Mental Disorders in Adults: An Umbrella Review and Meta‐Analytic Evaluation of Recent Meta‐Analyses. World Psychiatry. 2022 Feb; 21(1): 133-45. doi: 10.1002/wps.20941.

Christ C, Schouten MJ, Blankers M, van Schaik DJ, Beekman AT, Wisman MA et al. Internet and Computer-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of medical Internet research. 2020 Sep; 22(9): e17831. doi: 10.2196/17831.

Cuijpers P, Quero S, Noma H, Ciharova M, Miguel C, Karyotaki E et al. Psychotherapies for Depression: A Network Meta‐Analysis Covering Efficacy, Acceptability and Long‐Term Outcomes of All Main Treatment Types. World Psychiatry. 2021 Jun; 20(2): 283-93. doi: 10.1002/wps.20860.