A pilot study of meditation as a stress reliever for dental hygiene students during times of heightened stress

<p>Purpose: Dental hygiene students face an exorbitant amount of stress during their educational pursuits. This has only been compounded by the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students may benefit from the practice of meditation in managing their stress levels during these trying times. This study analyzes the effectiveness of meditation as a stress reliever for dental hygiene students as they navigate their education during the pandemic and the effects it may have on perception of stress, academic achievement, and physical health.</p> <p>Methods: Students participated in a four-week meditation study, consisting of a 30-minute guided meditation completed once weekly. Prior to participation, students completed a pre-test measuring their stress levels, the effects of stress on their physical well-being, and their academic achievement. After four-weeks of meditation, students completed a post-test identical to their pre-test, which provided quantitative data. A focus group was completed and qualitative data was gathered regarding the meditation’s effect on stress. Both qualitative and quantitative data were assessed and analyzed.</p> <p>Results: Fifteen students (n = 15) completed the full study. While this study did not supply statistically significant evidence that meditation effects the well-being or academic achievement of students, it did suggest meditation decreased the amount of perceived stress students experienced (p < .01).</p> <p>Conclusion: Meditation is a useful and effective tool for decreasing perceived stress experienced by dental hygiene students.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS) in Dental Hygiene

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Dental Hygiene

Year

2021

Author dc:creator

• Henderson, Sarah

• Dental Hygiene
• Movement and Mind-Body Therapies

Statement dc:rights

• Access is available to all users

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/691

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.ewu.edu:theses-1687