Mindfulness-Based College: A Stage 1 Randomized Controlled Trial for University Student Well-Being

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of a mindfulness-based program, adapted to the young adult life course stage (age, 18–29 years), named Mindfulness-Based College (MB-College). The primary outcome was a young adult health summary score, composed of key health risk factors: body mass index, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, stress, loneliness, and sleep duration. Secondary outcomes were hypothesized self-regulation mechanisms, including attention control, interoceptive awareness, and emotion regulation. METHODS: This was a stage 1 randomized controlled trial of the 9-week MB-College program (n = 47) versus enhanced usual care control (n = 49) including students from three universities. Assessments were at baseline, during the beginning of the college term when stress is typically lower, and at MB-College completion (3-month follow-up), when term-related stress is typically higher. Intention-to-treat, linear regression analyses estimated the marginal effects of MB-College versus control on the outcomes. RESULTS: MB-College participants (mean age = 20 years, 68% female, 37% racial minorities) demonstrated improved health summary scores at follow-up compared with control participants whose health summary scores worsened (marginal effect for MB-College versus control = 0.23; p = .004). Effects on loneliness were pronounced (marginal effect = −3.11 for the Revised University of Los Angeles Loneliness Scale score; p = .03). Secondary analyses showed significant impacts of MB-College on hypothesized self-regulation mechanisms (e.g., Sustained Attention to Response Task correct no-go percent, p = .0008; Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, p < .0001; Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression scale, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this early stage clinical trial suggest that MB-College may foster well-being in young adults. Trial Registration: NCT03124446