Effectiveness of Mindful Attention Awareness Breathing on Attention and Wellbeing Among Undergraduate Students (MAAB)

Enhancing Attention and Well-Being Through Mindful Attention Awareness Breathing: An Interventional Study Among Undergraduates

Mindfulness-based interventions, particularly breathing techniques, have shown promise in enhancing cognitive and emotional outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindful Attention Awareness Breathing (MAAB) on attention and well-being among undergraduate nursing students.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Attention Difficulties
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Mindful attention awareness breathing

Detailed Description

Nursing students must develop self-awareness and emotional stability to effectively interact with patients who come from diverse backgrounds and present with varied healthcare needs. During undergraduate education, students face the dual demands of theoretical learning and clinical practice, which can affect their attention, awareness, and overall well-being. Mindfulness-based practices, particularly breathing techniques, have been shown to support cognitive functioning and emotional balance. Mindful Attention Awareness Breathing is a structured breathing-based mindfulness practice that encourages individuals to focus on their breathing and remain aware of the present moment without judgment.

This experimental study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students in a selected teaching institution to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindful Attention Awareness Breathing on attention, mindfulness, and subjective well-being. Students in the intervention group participated in guided breathing sessions conducted daily for a specified period, while the control group continued with routine academic activities. Attention, mindfulness, and awareness were assessed using standardized instruments, and subjective well-being was measured using a validated student well-being questionnaire.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 170
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• India
  • Tamil Nadu
    • Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 600116
      • Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Students who are willing and available for 15 days. Students from the first and second year of B.Sc. Nursing

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students who are not willing to undergo the mindful breathing practice. Students having chronic respiratory conditions and poor attention span

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Mindful Breathing Group; 45 first-year students, and 40 second year students were allocated to study group. These students received supervised practice of mindful breathing techniques for 15 days.Intervention sessions were held every day for 20 minutes over 15 consecutive days in morning for the first year B.Sc. Nursing students and afternoon for the second year students. Students were divided into small groups of 10-12 for close observation and asked to assemble in the classroom. The exercises practiced in each session followed a structured sequence which includes pursed-lip breathing for 5 minutes, followed by box breathing for 3-4 minutes and 4-7-8 breathing for 5 minutes, diaphragmatic breathing for 4 minutes, and alternate nostril breathing for about 5 minutes. Students maintained proper posture, eye closure, and breath awareness throughout, with short relaxation intervals between exercises, and concluded with relaxation by placing the palms over the eyes.	Behavioral: Mindful attention awareness breathing; The exercises practiced in each session followed a structured sequence which includes pursed-lip breathing for 5 minutes, followed by box breathing for 3-4 minutes and 4-7-8 breathing for 5 minutes, diaphragmatic breathing for 4 minutes, and alternate nostril breathing for about 5 minutes. Students maintained proper posture, eye closure, and breath awareness throughout, with short relaxation intervals between exercises, and concluded with relaxation by placing the palms over the eyes.; Other Names: Mindful breathing
No Intervention: Control group; 45 first-year and 40 second year students were allocated to control group and they did not receive the intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mindfulness	Mindful Attention Awareness Scale A 15-item self-report scale measuring attention and awareness. Total score ranges from 15 to 90, with higher scores indicating greater mindfulness.	The assessment was done at baseline on day one and posttest on 15th day of the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Attention	Attention was determined using the Digit Span Test with total score ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.	Baseline was assessed on day 1 before starting the intervention and posttest was obtained on 15th day of the intervention
Well Being	The wellbeing of the students was assessed using the Student Subjective Well-being Questionnaire a 16-item questionnaire with total scores range from 1-64 and higher scores indicating greater wellbeing The effectiveness of the intervention is determined on all the three components and a correlation is done to determine their effects on each other	Baseline on Day 1 and post-intervention Day 15

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 26, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 26, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Mindfulness; Attention; Subjective Wellbeing
• Other Study ID Numbers: 146/141

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be publicly shared. De-identified data may be available from the corresponding investigator upon reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No