Integrating mindfulness into the academic curriculum: A qualitative study.
Journal of American college health : J of ACH – June 05, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
College students who learned meditation techniques showed remarkable improvements in stress management and self-awareness. Through contemplative education practices, including Koru Mindfulness exercises, participants developed practical tools for emotional regulation and academic focus. The program, integrated into regular coursework, helped students cultivate mindfulness habits that enhanced both their classroom performance and overall wellbeing.
Abstract
Objective: Most undergraduate students experience high stress levels, necessitating university support. Meditation-based programs can encourage student wellbeing. This research examined the feasibility of a for-credit undergraduate mindfulness course, its effectiveness in helping students develop a mindfulness practice, and its potential impact on healthy development. Participants: Twenty-nine undergraduates participated from Fall 2021 to Spring 2023. Methods: Data were collected through focused group and individual interviews, and student reflection essays, and analyzed using grounded theory and phenomenological analysis. Results: Six themes emerged: learning to practice, self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-regulation, applying practices, and quality of life. The course structure effectively integrated mindfulness practice into a didactic curriculum, supporting students in cultivating a practice in a guided setting, and seemed to enhance wellbeing and stress management for participants in the study. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that embedded contemplative education can enhance whole student learning so that the college experience is both less stressful and more meaningful.