Managing stress in academic settings: Evaluating the impact of a mindfulness app on perceived stress levels in doctor of nursing practice students

Abstract

In the demanding landscape of higher education, stress has become an increasingly more prevalent challenge for graduate students, particularly those enrolled in programs such as the University of Hawaii at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygeine, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. This doctoral study investigates the impact of a comprehensive mindfulness intervention on the well-being of graduate students in the DNP program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). Based around the acknowledgment of stress as a complex issue that is influenced by various individual, social, and environmental factors, the study aims to address the effects of unmanaged stress on students' mental health. This study, through an analysis of the existing research and theoretical frameworks, proposes that the mobile mindfulness application, Headspace, can be used as a practical and accessible tool to help manage stress. The intervention is a nonrandomized controlled clinical trial in design and provides participants with full access to the Headspace app over a 7-day period. This study uses a validated, quantitative tool: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), to assess changes in stress levels and overall well-being before and after the intervention. Qualitative feedback will also be gathered to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of the mindfulness app among DNP students. The results of this study implicate the need for improving the accessibility and diversity of the support systems available for graduate nursing students, with the ultimate goal of exploring new ways to support their mental health.