Loneliness, Mindfulness, and Academic Achievements: A Moderation Effect among First-Year College Students

Abstract

Abstract:The transition to college enhances feelings of loneliness, and lonely students typically underperform academically due to the depletion of cognitive resources. Mindfulness practice has been demonstrated to improve certain cognitive abilities. The current study examined whether mindfulness practice may moderate the relations between perceived loneliness and academic performance. In this study we combined data from two separate studies. In the first, loneliness, optimism, and academic self-efficacy were measured at the beginning of the academic year. In the second, mindfulness workshops were conducted in order to examine their impact on memory performance. In all, 73 college students in their first semester participated in the conjoint study (N = 50 mindfulness practice and N = 23 control). Their grades at the end of the semester and at the end of the year were also collected. Regression analyses were conducted in order to examine whether mindfulness moderated the effect of loneliness on academic achievements, and revealed that: a) loneliness was negatively correlated with recognition memory performance and with grades; b) grades were higher in the mindfulness group than in the control group; c) mindfulness and loneliness interacted, such that loneliness negatively predicted academic grades only for students who did not practice mindfulness. The results suggested that mindfulness practice may reduce the outcomes of loneliness on academic achievements in the first year of college.

Loneliness, Mindfulness and Hope: Empowering Rehabilitation Processes

“…Creswell [18] reported that mindfulness practice decreased levels of loneliness among older adults, and that this effect was mediated, to some extent, by the suppression of pro-inflammatory gene activity. In another study, [19] found that mindfulness practice moderated the effects of loneliness on academic achievements among first-year college students, such that whereas high levels of loneliness accompanied lower grades in the control group, no association between loneliness and achievements was evident in the mindfulness group. Finally, the impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in reducing loneliness among patients with HIV was demonstrated [20].…”

Integration of a Mindfulness Meditation Lab for University Students

“…Mindfulness has many proven benefits, including stress management, anxiety reduction, and learning in college (Bamber & Schneider, 2016;Dvořáková et al, 2017;Lynch, Gander, Kohls, Kudeilka, & Walach, 2011;Regehr, Glancy, & Pitts, 2013;Rosenstreich & Margalit, 2015). Mindfulness has also been found to improve self-confidence, optimism, happiness, self-esteem, on-task behavior and attention, and relationships with others (Fisher, 2006;Schonert-Reichl & Lawlor, 2010).…”

Editorial: Loneliness Past and Present, and Its Effects on our Lives

“…Campbell [9] provided a comprehensive review of the telephone help lines dedicated to helping the youth, and the reasons that children and adolescents do not take full advantage of that readily available extended hand. [10] attended to the loneliness experienced by first year college and university students, loneliness and other related emotions that may hamper their academic achievements. Their study examined whether mindfulness practice may moderate the relations between perceived loneliness and academic performance, and whether mindfulness workshops could enhance performance memory.…”