LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF REGULAR MBSR PRACTICE ON EXPERIENCING STRESSFUL SITUATIONS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Between 2006 and 2017 a longitudinal study using Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was conducted in Mendoza, Argentina. The objective was to monitor an eight-week-long programme of regular MBSR practice on reducing anxiety, improving quality of life, and to continuously map the ability to achieve the state of “flow” within 103 Argentinian university students in their final year of study within various fields of study.
The method of MBSR practice and the subsequent use of mindfulness in everyday life showed to be very efficient in creating the traits of a resilient personality during the 12 years of the study. The results are based on subjective descriptions of the state of the respondents (today working adults). Four in-depth interviews with participants were conducted every year for a total of 4,944 interviews. The interviews focused on the following areas: the perceived stressful situation and the subsequent coping with the situation under stress. Records of the interviews were then analysed using the ATLAS ti. 7 program. The results implied that the participants felt a significant reduction in anxiety, their ability to manage emotions improved, and states of panic when solving difficult life situations disappeared (mostly in the area of work relationships and performance). Also, the participants noticed a higher concentration on work and complete absorption in work (flow).
We believe that introducing similar programmes, or such practically focused disciplines, in the education of university students could significantly facilitate better study results, lead to a higher quality of life, and thus a subsequent economic impact in the form of satisfied workers and a reduced burden on the medical system. In the Czech Republic, the subject of “Mindfulness in Practice” has recently been included in the new accreditation file of the Faculty of Education, in the field of Psychology for Teachers at High Schools and Vocational Schools. We performed a similar study concurrently within Spain, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The data are currently being assessed.