An Eight-Week Zen Meditation and Music Programme for Mindfulness and Happiness: Qualitative Content Analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Music Therapy
• Higher Education Mental Health

Background:

• Mental wellness is crucial for university students' academic success and overall well-being.
• Existing wellness programs aim to enhance student experiences, but integration of specific therapeutic modalities requires further exploration.
• Music therapy students face unique stressors that may benefit from targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on mindfulness and happiness.
• To assess the impact of an 8-week meditation and music (MM) program on university music therapy students.
• To explore the potential of combined music and meditation practices for enhancing mental well-being.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative methodology employing surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze data related to the MM program's impact.
• An 8-week Mindfulness Meditation (MM) program was implemented with university music therapy students.

Main Results:

• The MM program demonstrated a potential to enhance mindfulness levels.
• Participants reported increased happiness and improved stress management skills.
• The integration of meditation and music positively influenced mental well-being.

Conclusions:

• The 8-week MM program is a viable approach for improving mental health in higher education.
• Findings support the use of combined meditation and music for promoting mental well-being.
• This study highlights the potential for integrating music and meditation into university support systems.