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), 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) vs. 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 (three months follow-up), when term-related stress is typically higher. Intention to treat, linear regression analyses estimated the marginal effects of MB-College vs. control on the outcomes. RESULTS MB-College participants (mean age 20 y, 68% female, 37% racial minorities) demonstrated improved health summary scores at follow-up, compared to control participants whose health summary scores worsened (marginal effect for MB-College vs. control=0.23; p=0.004). Effects on loneliness were pronounced (marginal effect=-3.11 for R-UCLA score; p=0.03). 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=0.0008; Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, p<0.0001; Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Findings of this early stage clinical trial suggest that MB-College may foster well-being in young adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03124446.