Research Article

The Effects of Mindfulness and Buddhist Meditation Coaching on Mental Health Outcomes in College Students

Table 1

Descriptive characteristics of the study population at baseline.

Individual characteristics

Sex, n (%)
 Men133 (52.2)
 Women123 (47.8)
Grade, n (%)
 Freshmen117 (45.7)
 Sophomore76 (29.7)
 Junior39 (15.2)
 Senior24 (9.4)
Major, n (%)
 College of humanities and social sciences99 (38.7)
 College of science100 (39.1)
 College of arts and sports, others31 (12.1)
 College of education26 (10.2)
Adjusting to college life, n (%)
 Good122 (47.7)
 Poor134 (52.3)
Household income, quantile, n (%)
 First (highest)106 (41.4)
 Second108 (42.2)
 Third (lowest)42 (16.4)
Religion, n (%)
 Atheism or others159 (62.1)
 Buddhism30 (11.7)
 Catholic21 (8.2)
 Protestantism46 (18.0)
Knowledge of Buddhism, n (%)
 No knowledge16 (6.3)
 Little knowledge80 (31.3)
 Fair knowledge147 (57.4)
 Well knowledge13 (5.1)
Importance of religion in life, n (%)
 Not important106 (41.4)
 Not so important62 (24.2)
 Somewhat important50 (19.6)
 Very important38 (14.8)
Before meditation class
 Adult ADHD level, mean (sd)64.6 (15.0)
 Ego identity level, mean (sd)163.7 (27.0)
 Perceived stress level, mean (sd)27.5 (6.0)
 Self-efficacy level, mean (sd)31.3 (5.8)
 Self-esteem level, mean (sd)35.3 (5.1)
 Spiritual well-being level, mean (sd)41.0 (7.8)
After meditation class
 Adult ADHD level, mean (sd)62.3 (16.6)
 Ego identity level, mean (sd)166.4 (29.0)
 Perceived stress level, mean (sd)27.5 (6.3)
 Self-efficacy level, mean (sd)31.5 (5.3)
 Self-esteem level, mean (sd)35.6 (5.2)
 Spiritual well-being level, mean (sd)41.3 (7.8)

Abbreviations: sd, standard deviation; n, number.