The effect of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program on depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive flexibility in nursing students: A randomized clinical trial.

An online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program for nursing students reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and increased cognitive flexibility. In a randomized controlled trial, students who completed the program scored lower on depression, anxiety, and stress measures and higher on cognitive flexibility at both post-test and follow-up compared to a control group, with statistically significant differences. The program appears effective for improving mental health and cognitive flexibility in this population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

It is known that the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of the nursing students are higher compared to the general student population. Nursing educators should use evidence-based, effective, and innovative interventions to help students recognize and reduce their mental symptoms. This study aimed to determine the effect of the online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program, which was implemented for nursing students, on depression, anxiety, stress and cognitive flexibility levels. This randomized controlled trial study adopted a pretest-posttest-follow-up test research design. As a result of the analyses, the intervention group had lower scores in the post-test and follow-up test measurements of the depression, anxiety and stress dimensions of the Depression-Anxiety and Stress Scale compared to the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between them (p < 0.05). The post-test and follow-up test Cognitive Flexibility Inventory scores of intervention students were higher than those of the students in the control group and there was a statistically significant difference between them (p < 0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that this program can reduce depression, anxiety, stress and increase cognitive flexibility levels among nursing students.