Abstract
Objective: The aims of this pilot study were: first, to assess the impact of a brief classroom-based mindfulness program on students’ reported levels of mindfulness, well-being, and stress; and, second, to understand students’ experiences of participating in the program.Participants: Students at a private midwestern research-intensive university, 133 (16%) students completed either the study’s pretest or post-test survey.Methods: The study had an observational design using pre- and post-test survey responses from students taking courses from faculty who were trained to facilitate brief classroom-based mindfulness activities.Results: Students who participated in the semester-long program reported reduced levels of stress and increased mindfulness. Qualitative data indicate that students found the program to be beneficial.Conclusions: Brief classroom-based mindfulness activities led by faculty may have benefits for students in higher education settings. More research is recommended to better understand the impact of mindfulness in the classroom on students and faculty.
Conflict of interest disclosure
The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the Case Western Reserve University Institutional Review Board.