Reflective Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation Training to Enhance Nursing Students' Self-Awareness, Understanding, and Regulation

Alexandria University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Undergraduate Health Professional Students

Treatments

Behavioral: Reflective Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation training

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT06760962

Nursing college, Benha Univ

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study assessed the impact of a six-week Reflective Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation Training (RMERT) program on fourth-year nursing students. Using a randomized controlled trial with 40 participants, the intervention group (n=20) received RMERT, while the control group (n=20) continued standard coursework.

Full description

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Reflective Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation Training (RMERT) in enhancing nursing students' self-awareness, emotional understanding, and regulation. Nursing students frequently face significant academic and psychological challenges, particularly in mental health nursing courses, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and compromised well-being. RMERT was designed as a psychoeducational intervention integrating mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques to help students develop critical skills for managing these challenges.

Study Design The randomized controlled trial employed a mixed-methods approach and involved 40 fourth-year undergraduate nursing students at Benha University. Participants were randomly allocated into an intervention group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). The intervention group attended a six-week RMERT program, while the control group continued their standard academic activities without additional interventions. Both groups underwent pre- and post-intervention assessments using validated instruments: the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Qualitative data, collected exclusively from the intervention group, were analysed thematically.

Intervention The RMERT program consisted of six weekly 90-minute sessions facilitated by researchers trained in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and transactional analysis (TA). The training employed the ABC model of CBT (activating events, beliefs, and consequences) to address maladaptive cognitive patterns, along with TA techniques such as empathic inquiry and reflection. Relaxation strategies, including diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, were also integrated. The sessions focused on enabling students to reflect on their mental and emotional states, process their feelings, and apply cognitive reappraisal-a healthy emotional regulation strategy-instead of relying on expressive suppression, which is maladaptive.

Enrollment

40 patients

Sex

All

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Students enroled in the psychiatric/mental health nursing course for the first time, i.e., did not enrol in or join similar or the same course before.
for example, joined the faculty from the secondary school, not through other paths or bridging educational programs that would include psychiatric/mental health courses/modules as part of their programs
did not fail the course before or attended it for more time.

Exclusion criteria