A Self-Managed Online Mindfulness Program in a University-Wide Learning Management System Orientation Site: A...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective in university students, but research on self-managed online programs is limited.
• Universities increasingly seek scalable digital wellbeing solutions for student populations.
• Understanding real-world implementation challenges is crucial for online student support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of a university-wide, self-managed online mindfulness program.
• To examine student engagement patterns and their correlation with wellbeing outcomes.
• To identify implications for implementing digital wellbeing initiatives in higher education.

Main Methods:

• An ecological validation study involving 833 university students using a fully online, self-managed mindfulness program.
• Data collected via baseline and end-of-semester surveys measuring mental wellbeing, perceived stress, and mindfulness.
• Learning analytics from the Learning Management System (LMS) tracked student engagement with the program.

Main Results:

• Participants engaging with the program for 3+ weeks showed significant improvements in wellbeing, stress, and mindfulness.
• All participants, regardless of engagement level, reported significant wellbeing improvements by semester's end.
• Low engagement was prevalent: 58.6% did not log in, 31.0% logged in 1-2 times, and 10.2% logged in 3+ times.

Conclusions:

• Self-managed online mindfulness programs can yield positive wellbeing outcomes for university students, even with low engagement.
• Student engagement with online wellbeing tools is complex and influenced by various factors, including external circumstances.
• Effective implementation requires understanding student behaviour and adapting strategies for sustained participation in digital health initiatives.