A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for University Students: A Feasibility Study
Abstract
Background: Koru is a 4-week group mindfulness-based intervention that previously demonstrated psychological benefits in university students through its offering via a counseling center (Greeson, Juberg, Mayatan, James, & Rogers, 2014).
Aim: This study examined the feasibility of Koru offered universally to students via collaborative outreach (i.e., student interest, attendance, adverse events, participant acceptability, and participant willingness to complete assessments).
Method: Across five semesters, Koru was advertised via flyers, emails to student organizations and faculty and staff, and counseling center referrals at a southeastern public university with 29,000-students. Interested students were randomly assigned to Koru or a waitlist. In-person Koru groups took place in classrooms on campus. Assessments included practice logs, program evaluations, and pre- and post-intervention surveys measuring mindfulness and psychological symptoms.
Results: Interest was sufficient to offer 2-3 groups per semester (171 students). Of those assigned to Koru, 44.4% completed 3-4 sessions and 34.9% did not attend any sessions. The adverse event rate was 2.9%. Evaluations were positive and all participants attending the last session completed them. The response rate was 29.0% for log completion and 17.9% for survey completion.
Conclusion: Results support student interest in, and acceptability of Koru offered to all students on campus outside of a counseling center. Data collection was challenging.
Keywords: mindfulness, university students, stress
How to Cite:
Dolbier, C., Conder, L., Guiler, W. & Haley, E., (2022) “A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for University Students: A Feasibility Study”, Building Healthy Academic Communities 6(1), 47-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v6i1.8980
Rights: Christyn Dolbier, Lauren Conder, William Guiler, Erin Haley
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