Effectiveness of a digital mindfulness-based program on the mental health of college students: A randomized controlled trial in China

Students in the treatment group will receive free access to a sub-application, which they can access directly through the popular social media platform WeChat without needing to separately download. The sub-application will contain brief audio recordings of mindfulness-related content aligned with the eight-week MBP curriculum (the Mindfulness4College Program, implemented in fall of 2025), guided meditation practices, and worksheets to facilitate their completion of brief exercises related to the material. Students will learn core mindful awareness practices such as sitting meditation, body scans, and mindful movement. For the duration of the eight weeks, will be asked to conduct at least 15-20 minutes of mindfulness practice, six days per week.

2026-10-05

2026-12-07

Anxiety symptoms measured using the GAD-7 (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, weekly during intervention)

Depression symptoms measured using the PHQ-9 (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, biweekly during intervention)

Perceived stress measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, biweekly during intervention)

Emotion regulation measured using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, biweekly during intervention)

Trait mindfulness measured using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire–Short Form (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Loneliness measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Sleep quality measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up) and a two-item version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (biweekly during intervention)

Flourishing measured using the Flourishing Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Life satisfaction measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Academic performance measured using previous-semester GPA and/or Gaokao score (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Lifestyle behaviors measured using self-report items assessing the amount and frequency of behaviors, such as screen use and exercise (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Face-saving attitudes measured using the Face Saving Scale (CPAI-2) (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Somatic symptoms measured using the Somatic Symptom Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Acceptability measured using self-report items assessing perceived benefits and adverse effects, as well as qualitative follow-up interviews (post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Self-compassion measured using the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, biweekly during intervention)

Experiential avoidance measured using the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Gratitude measured using the Gratitude Questionnaire (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, biweekly during intervention)

Stress mindset measured using the Stress Mindset Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Online social support measured using the Online Social Support Scale (OSSS) (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Smartphone addiction measured using the Smartphone Addiction Scale (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

Mental health literacy measured using the MHLq-SVa (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up)

State mindfulness measured using the Multidimensional State Mindfulness Questionnaire (pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, biweekly during intervention)









during the intervention
2. Trait mindfulness measured using Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire - Short Form at preintervention,
post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation followup
3. Loneliness measured using UCLA Loneliness Scale at pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-
month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up
4. Sleep quality measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at pre-intervention, postintervention,
3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up, biweekly during
the intervention (two-item version)
5. Flourishing measured using Flourishing Scale at pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month
follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up
6. Life satisifaction measured using Satisfaction with Life Scale at pre-intervention, postintervention,
3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, post-graduation follow-up

The experimental design will be a randomized study with undergraduate students recruited
from three universities in China. Using the RCT method of impact evaluation, we will be able to
ensure that the intervention and control groups have similar characteristics at baseline, which is
vital for drawing a causal connection between the intervention and any changes in student. By assuring the similarity of characteristics (such as sex, baseline mental health, etc.) between the treatment and control groups at baseline, we can confidently attribute any
significant differences in outcomes between the control and intervention group to the program. All study participants will receive adequate financial compensation for participating in the study.

Not available

Randomization will be done using a digital random number generator on a computer

Individual

No

N/A

250

125 control group, 125 mindfulness group

0.4 SD