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Reflective mindfulness and emotional regulation training to enhance nursing students’ self-awareness, understanding, and regulation: a mixed method randomized controlled trial

G. Salem, Wilf Hashimi, A. El-Ashry

BMC Nursing, 2025

20 participants · 52 citations

Abstract

Nursing students encounter significant academic and psychological challenges that can impede their transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application, affecting their well-being and professional development. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Reflective Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation Training (RMERT) in improving nursing students’ self-awareness, understanding, and emotional regulation. This study employed a convergent parallel mixed-method randomized controlled trial design. Forty fourth-year undergraduate nursing students were randomly assigned using simple randomization (computer-generated random numbers) into either an intervention group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20). The intervention group participated in a six-week RMERT program designed to enhance self-awareness, understanding, and emotional regulation. The control group continued with standard course activities. Quantitative data were collected pre- and post-intervention using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and analyzed using SPSS. Qualitative data, gathered exclusively from the intervention group through recorded reflective group sessions, were analyzed using thematic analysis. The intervention group exhibited significantly improved self-awareness, understanding, and emotional regulation compared to the control group. Additionally, students displayed an increased capacity for mindfulness, a decreased tendency to…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 20 participants or records.

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