Abstract : Background: Medical students experience high levels of anxiety, which can impair academic performance and mental well-being. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown efficacy in reducing anxiety across populations.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention on anxiety among medical students compared with standard stress-management education.
Methods: A parallel-group randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 medical students. Participants were randomized 1:1 to an 8-week MBI program or standard stress-management education. Anxiety was assessed at baseline and at 8 weeks using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Randomization and allocation were computer-generated, and outcome assessors were blinded. The primary outcome was the change in GAD-7 scores from baseline to 8 weeks.
Results: All 120 participants completed the study. The MBI group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in GAD-7 scores compared with the control group (mean difference ?4.2; 95% CI ?6.3 to ?2.1; p<0.001). No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: An 8-week mindfulness-based intervention effectively reduced anxiety among medical students compared with standard stress-management education. MBIs are feasible and beneficial tools for mental health promotion in medical education.
Introduction : Medical students face substantial academic pressure, long working hours, and high expectations, making them susceptible to anxiety and stress [1,2]. Anxiety can negatively affect cognitive function, clinical performance, and overall well-being [3]. Conventional stress-management programs provide general coping strategies but may be insufficient for many students.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) cultivate present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of thoughts and feelings [4]. MBIs have shown efficacy in reducing anxiety, stress, and burnout in various populations, including healthcare professionals [5,6].
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week MBI on anxiety among medical students compared with standard stress-management education, following CONSORT 2010 guidelines [7].
Method : Participants
Inclusion criteria: medical students aged ?18 years, enrolled in any year of study, and providing informed consent.
Exclusion criteria: current psychiatric diagnosis, ongoing psychotherapy or psychotropic medications, or previous formal mindfulness training.
Randomization and Blinding
Participants were randomized 1:1 to MBI or control using computer-generated random numbers. Allocation was concealed in sealed opaque envelopes. Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Participants could not be blinded due to the nature of the intervention.
Interventions
• MBI Group: 8-week mindfulness-based program consisting of weekly 2-hour group sessions and daily home practice (guided meditation, mindful breathing, body scan, and yoga).
• Control Group: Standard stress-management education, including lectures on time management, relaxation techniques, and coping strategies, without mindfulness practice.
Outcomes
• Primary Outcome: Change in anxiety scores measured using the GAD-7 scale from baseline to 8 weeks [8].
• Secondary Outcomes: Participant adherence, acceptability of the intervention, and adverse events.
Sample Size
Assuming an effect size of 0.6, 80% power, ?=0.05, and 10% attrition, 60 participants per group were required.
Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed using SPSS v26. Continuous variables were summarized as mean ± SD; categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Between-group differences were assessed using independent t-tests or chi-square tests. The primary outcome was analyzed using ANCOVA adjusting for baseline GAD-7 scores. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Ethical Considerations
The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Approval No. XXX). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Result : Participant Flow
120 students were enrolled and randomized (MBI n=60, Control n=60). All participants completed the intervention and post-assessment (Figure 1: CONSORT flow diagram).
Baseline Characteristics
Characteristic MBI (n=60) Control (n=60) p-value
Age (years, mean ± SD) 21.8 ± 2.1 22.0 ± 2.2 0.62
Female (%) 32 (53%) 31 (52%) 0.87
GAD-7 score (mean ± SD) 11.2 ± 3.4 10.9 ± 3.6 0.65
Primary Outcome
• MBI Group: GAD-7 decreased from 11.2 ± 3.4 to 6.1 ± 2.8
• Control Group: GAD-7 decreased from 10.9 ± 3.6 to 9.3 ± 3.2
• Between-group difference: mean difference ?4.2 (95% CI ?6.3 to ?2.1; p<0.001)
Secondary Outcomes
• Adherence: 95% completed all sessions in MBI group
• Acceptability: High; participants reported improved self-awareness and stress coping
• Adverse events: None reported
Discussion : This RCT demonstrates that an 8-week MBI significantly reduces anxiety among medical students compared with standard stress-management education. The observed reduction in GAD-7 scores is clinically meaningful, aligning with previous studies of mindfulness in healthcare trainees [5,6].
MBIs may improve resilience, attentional control, and emotional regulation, which are critical in high-stress educational settings [4]. High adherence and acceptability indicate feasibility for implementation in medical curricula.
Strengths:
• Randomized controlled design with blinded outcome assessment
• High adherence and complete follow-up
• CONSORT-compliant reporting
Limitations:
• Single-center study limits generalizability
• Participants could not be blinded, introducing potential expectation bias
• Short-term follow-up; long-term effects unknown
Conclusion : An 8-week mindfulness-based intervention effectively reduces anxiety among medical students. MBIs are feasible, well-tolerated, and may be considered as part of mental health promotion programs in medical education.
References :
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