Effectiveness of an educational mindfulness-based program to reduce academic stress in dental students

Herrera-Plasencia P.M.; Cherre Antón C.A. · Educacion Medica (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.edumed.2026.101185

Resumen

Introduction: Academic stress is common among dental students due to the heavy academic workload and clinical demands, which is why strategies to strengthen emotional self-regulation are needed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based educational program in reducing academic stress in dental students. Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study was conducted. Sixty-three male and female students enrolled in the dentistry program at a university in Peru voluntarily participated. An experimental group (n = 33) and a control group (n = 30) were formed. Academic stress was assessed before and after the intervention using an adapted version of the SISCO-SV-21 Inventory for the context of dental education. The intervention consisted of fifteen structured educational sessions focused on two components of mindfulness: concentration and relaxation. Results: In the pretest evaluation, both groups showed high and comparable levels of academic stress (p = 0.698). After the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in the posttest (p < 0.001; d = 1.55), while the control group showed a minimal effect (d = −0.17). The mixed ANOVA confirmed a significant group × time interaction (p < 0.001), showing a differential change between groups. Conclusion: The implementation of a structured mindfulness program was associated with a significant and clinically relevant reduction in academic stress among dental students.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo