Date of Award
Summer 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Committee Chairperson
Geeta Shivde, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Susan Gans, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Sandra Kerr, Ph.D.
Abstract
College students are at risk of experiencing negative mental and physical health outcomes due to stress, inadequate coping skills and problems with emotion regulation. Mindfulness interventions could help with this because mindfulness has been shown to improve mental and physical health. The present study investigated the effects of a six-week mindfulness intervention (Learning to BREATHE) on the cortisol stress responses to a cognitive challenge task in college students. Salivary cortisol samples collected were analyzed to assess improvements from before to after the intervention in a group of introductory psychology students who participated in weekly in-person mindfulness training as compared to a control group who only had email information about the benefits of mindfulness. Results did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between the Learning to Breathe and control group. Limitations and implications of the present study will be discussed.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Diamond, "The effect of the Learning to BREATHE Mindfulness Program on Salivary Cortisol Stress Response" (2024). West Chester University Master’s Theses. 332.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_theses/332