Effects of online mindful stretching exercises for loneliness, mindfulness, and hair cortisol: A mixed method study.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) June 26, 2025 Freda Jia Xin Jong, Caryn Chuen Wei Lee, Rachel Sing-Kiat Ting et al. 2 citations
Brief online mindful stretching interventions, with or without a mindful breathing component, can help university students cope with loneliness and improve mindfulness. In a four-week trial, 103 students were randomly assigned to daily mindful stretching with breathing or stretching only. Both groups showed small-to-moderate reductions in loneliness and moderate-to-large improvements in mindfulness, with no significant differences between the groups. Qualitative interviews indicated participants experienced calming effects and greater self- and environmental awareness. The findings suggest that simple, self-administered online mindful stretching programs are useful for addressing loneliness and enhancing mindfulness among young adults.