EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BODY SCAN MEDITATION ON STRESS AMONG FIRST-YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Stress has become a pervasive problem significantly affecting university students' academic and social lives. This mixed-methods study examined the effectiveness of a 4-week guided body scan meditation program-involving sequential attention to body parts while observing sensations without judgment-on stress among first-year university students (N=43). Paired-samples t-test revealed statistically significant reductions in stress-related automatic thoughts from pre-test (M=23.42, SD=5.01) to post-test (M=17.09, SD=6.12), t(42)=5.63, p<.001, Cohen's d=1.12, representing a 27% decrease. Qualitative content analysis of participants' descriptions of emotional states and stress sources identified eight themes: physiological manifestations (87.5% reduction), cognitive restructuring, emotion regulation (90.7% improvement), social functioning, academic stress (85.7% reduction), existential concerns (84.6% reduction), self-efficacy enhancement, and coping strategies. Overall, 93% reported improvements across diverse domains. Convergence of quantitative and qualitative evidence demonstrates that brief body scan meditation effectively addresses the multifaceted, interconnected challenges of university transition, representing a feasible intervention for students' mental health needs.