Targeted mindfulness and self-compassion improve long-term stress reduction in distance learning students: a randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Stress remains a critical barrier to psychological wellbeing and academic functioning among university students, particularly in cognitively demanding distance learning contexts. These students often experience role conflict, social isolation, and increased mental load, which can hinder effective learning. This study examined whether a targeted web-based mindfulness intervention-focused on self-compassion and gratitude-produces more sustainable psychological benefits than a comprehensive mindfulness program.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial included 167 university students who were randomized to one of two intervention arms; the final analytic sample comprised 98 participants after pre-specified, arm-blind outlier handling and exclusions due to missingne

SUBMITTER: Bock L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12847346 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature