The interplay between mindfulness, depression, stress and academic performance in medical students: A Saudi perspective

Abstract

There is a growing body of research that shows a significant association between mindfulness and mental health. However, studies on Saudi populations are still in their infancy. Mindfulness is a personal tendency to focus on the present time in a non-judgmental manner, including the interior and exterior experience of feelings and events. The first aim of this study is to examine the relationship between mindfulness, stress, depression, and academic performance in a sample of medical students from King Saud University. The second aim is to explore the potential moderation effects of mindfulness on the impact of stress on academic performance and depression in the study population. This cross-sectional study examined 289 medical students who were selected by a stratified random sampling technique and completed validated online questionnaires measuring mindfulness, stress, and depression. The data were analyzed using SAS version 9.2, and R software was used for graphs. Correlation analysis showed that mindfulness is inversely associated with depression and stress, but not with academic performance. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression showed that mindfulness can predict both depression and stress. We also found that two subscales of mindfulness can moderate the relation between stress and depression: non-judging of inner experience and describing. The findings suggest that a higher mindfulness score is associated with lower depression and stress levels and could buffer against depression in a stressful environment. There is a need for further research to investigate the relation of mindfulness with positive psychological outcomes, as well as experimental trials to examine the efficacy of mindfulness training on improving mental wellbeing in our community.

Mindfulness-based intervention helps preclinical medical students to contain stress, maintain mindfulness and improve academic success

“…Firstly, mindfulness and perceived stress showed a significant negative correlation. This is in line with previous studies [ 9 , 12 , 13 , 25 ] and serves to confirm the validity of both parameters. Secondly, students progressing from their first to their second year at medical school perceived increasing stress and again, this has previously and internationally been reported [ 5 ].…”

“…In contrast, the lack of any correlation between mindfulness and academic achievements – assessed twice at T1 and T3 - was unexpected. Even though our findings confirm a previous cross sectional study on 289 medical students across all academic years, results from middle school children and a broad variety of bachelor students were more promising [ 12 , 22 ]. However, the latter study relied on self-reported grade point averages and did not report on any time delay between exam and assessment of mindfulness [ 22 ].…”

“…Unfortunately, we here observed – even though in the second academic year only – that the increase in perceived stress had shifted the students’ academic performance along the Yerkes-Dodson curve towards a less productive range [ 26 ]. Thirdly, and this again was to be expected considering the above reported connection, the increase in perceived stress was paralleled by a decline in mindfulness [ 5 , 12 , 13 , 27 ].…”

“…Kabat-Zinn was one of the first to establish mindfulness in Western medicine and described mindfulness as being fully aware of the present moment and of bodily sensations, without being judgmental [ 11 ]. Indeed, mindfulness was shown to be inversely associated with depression and stress [ 12 , 13 ]. And interventions to improve mindfulness led to a decrease in mental distress, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion and fatigue inertia while at the same time fostering subjective well-being, empathy and self-compassion [ 14 – 17 ].…”

Fear of COVID-19 and Mental Health: The Role of Mindfulness in During Time of Crisis

“…Literature suggests that mindfulness is associated with an attitude of acceptance (Bishop et al, 2004). Thus, individuals with high levels of mindfulness are less likely to be overwhelmed by the distressing feelings such as depression (e.g., Alzahrani et al, 2020;Barnes& Lynn, 2010;Carmody & Baer, 2008;Fisak & Von Lehe, 2012;Royuela-Colomer & Calvete, 2016) and anxiety (MacDonald & Olsen, 2020;Singh et al, 2020). In support, an immense number of studies documented that mindfulness programs decreased individuals' levels of depression (Zemestani&Nikoo, 2019) and anxiety symptoms (e.g., La Torre et al, 2020).…”