Effectiveness of a Low-Dose Mindfulness Intervention for College Students: Does Major Play a Role?

Abstract

This study addressed the elevated rates of distress among college students and emphasized the potential benefits of preventive  programs through examining the effectiveness of a low-dose mindfulness intervention implemented throughout a college semester. The Mindful Ambassador Program (MAP) was introduced as a universal intervention integrated into classroom instruction to large classes in the College of Education with a sample of 105 participants from diverse majors. Measures of well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress were administered at the beginning and end of the semester. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their majors. The effectiveness of the intervention was analyzed using a two-tailed t-test. The findings indicated only a significant change in scores before and after the intervention for anxiety. The levels of depression and anxiety scores were consistently lower for
the Psychology students compared to those in other majors. The study acknowledged limitations, including the need to consider confounding variables and the absence of specific stressor data.