Effectiveness Of Mindfulness Therapy In Reducing Anxiety Among Nursing Students: A PrePost Experimental Study

Adolescent mental health, particularly among nursing students, has become a Background: Nursing students experience significant stress due to academic and clinical demands, leading to anxiety that affects their mental well-being. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been recognized as an effective strategy for anxiety reduction and emotional regulation. Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy in reducing anxiety among nursing students through a randomized controlled trial. Methods: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted at ITEKES Mahardika Cirebon. Sixty nursing students with moderate to high anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥10) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=30) or control group (n=30). The intervention group underwent weekly mindfulness therapy sessions for six weeks (45 minutes/session), including guided meditation, breathing exercises, and body scanning. The primary outcome was the reduction in anxiety scores, analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-tests. Effect size (Cohen's d) was calculated to assess intervention impact. Results: The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety levels (mean difference = 5.4, t = 6.12, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.23), whereas the control group showed no significant change (p = 0.376). A post-intervention comparison confirmed the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy (mean difference = 4.7, t = 5.68, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.12). Conclusion: Mindfulness therapy significantly reduces anxiety among nursing students. Incorporating mindfulness practices into nursing education and student support services can enhance mental well-being and academic resilience.