Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The university experience often brings various personal and academic challenges that can negatively impact students' mental health. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of a mindfulness program on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction among university students. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 128 participants, divided into experimental and waiting list control groups. The experimental group participated in a mindfulness meditation program consisting of 12 weekly sessions. Pre-test and post-test measurements were performed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to assess the variables. RESULTS: The experimental group showed statistically significant differences between the study phases and the groups after the intervention for all the variables examined (p < 0.05). The effect sizes calculated using the HC3 model were stress (η (2) = 0.376), anxiety (η (2) = 0.538), depression (η (2) = 0.091), sleep quality (η (2) = 0.306), social support (η (2) = 0.704), and life satisfaction (η (2) = 0.510). The mindfulness program was shown to be effective in reducing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression while also improving sleep quality, social support, and life satisfaction in college students. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that mindfulness meditation may be valuable for enhancing psychological well-being in educational settings.