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Reducing anxiety among teacher candidates: The efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction in higher education

Tri Cahyono (), Nisa Ariantini (), Nurul Fadilah (), Zainal Abidin Muhja () and Ika Yulianti ()

Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 2025, vol. 9, issue 7, 493-504

Abstract: The high anxiety rate among students, especially prospective teachers, is a significant concern in higher education. Unmanaged anxiety can negatively affect quality of life, academic performance, and professional competence. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing state and trait anxiety among undergraduate students in education programs. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest approach involving 24 participants divided into two groups: an intervention group and a waitlist control group. The intervention group participated in eight sessions of a modified MBSR program tailored for teacher training students, while the waitlist group studied the MBSR material independently. Measurements were taken before and after the intervention using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and data were analyzed using a 2x2 Repeated Measures ANOVA. Results indicated a significant decrease in both state and trait anxiety in the intervention group following the MBSR program. The average state anxiety score decreased from 55.33 to 49.83, a reduction of 5.5 points, while trait anxiety decreased from 55.33 to 50.25, a reduction of 5.08 points. Conversely, the waitlist group experienced only a slight decrease in state anxiety and a minor increase in trait anxiety. Statistical analysis revealed significant effects of time and group interactions (p < 0.05), with large effect sizes (η² = 0.558 for state anxiety and η² = 0.312 for trait anxiety), indicating that MBSR has a substantial impact on reducing anxiety, particularly in state anxiety.

Keywords: College students; Mental health; Mindfulness-based stress reduction; State anxiety; Trait anxiety. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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