Awakened Awareness Online: Results from an Open Trial of a Spiritual–Mind–Body Wellness Intervention for Remote Undergraduate Students
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Remote Wellness Resources
1.2. Barriers to Mental Health Services for SGM Students
1.3. Spirituality and Its Protective Effects on Mental Health
1.4. Awakened Awareness for Adolescents
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants and Procedures
2.2. Measures
2.2.1. Clinical Symptoms
2.2.2. Spiritual Well-Being
2.2.3. Affordances and Constraints
2.3. Data Analysis
2.3.1. Feasibility
2.3.2. Acceptability
2.3.3. Pre-Post Intervention Changes
2.3.4. SGM Status and Delivery Method
3. Results
3.1. Feasibility
3.2. Acceptability
Being in person is important to me and I think it would have been easier to cultivate relationships from it that way…I thought it was so helpful and I got to know people, [but] it doesn’t have that element of showing up early so you chit chat or after you leave people stay behind and chit chat. I think that those tiny elements really do change the way the program works.
This specific group has allowed me to meet people that go to my school that I really don’t think I would be meeting otherwise. It’s given me an avenue to have social interaction…It’s an hour and a half with this intimate group of people that I feel comfortable with, it’s very nice just having that safe space.
3.3. Pre-Post Intervention Changes
3.4. SGM Status and Delivery Method
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Participated Online | Participated in Person | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Characteristic | n (%) | /n | n (%) | /n |
Gender | ||||
Male | 3 (8%) | 39 | 12 (15.6%) | 77 |
Female | 32 (82%) | 39 | 62 (80.5%) | 77 |
Transgender and non-binary | 4 (10.3%) | 39 | 3 (3.9%) | 77 |
Sexual orientation | ||||
Heterosexual | 18 (46%) | 39 | 48 (62.3%) | 77 |
Gay/Lesbian | 6 (15%) | 39 | 6 (7.8%) | 77 |
Bisexual | 9 (23%) | 39 | 16 (20.8%) | 77 |
Questioning | 5 (13%) | 39 | 2 (2.6%) | 77 |
Queer/Pansexual | 0 (0%) | 39 | 3 (3.9%) | 77 |
Prefer not to specify | 1 (3%) | 39 | 2 (2.6%) | 77 |
Race/Ethnicity | ||||
African American/Black | 6 (15%) | 39 | 14 (18.2%) | 77 |
Asian | 10 (26%) | 39 | 13 (16.9%) | 77 |
Latino/a | 3 (8%) | 39 | 6 (7.8%) | 77 |
White/Caucasian | 13 (33%) | 39 | 32 (41.6%) | 77 |
American Indian | 0 (0%) | 39 | 1 (1.3%) | 77 |
Polynesian | 1 (3%) | 39 | 0 (0%) | 77 |
Multiracial | 5 (13%) | 39 | 10 (13%) | 77 |
Middle Eastern | 0 (0%) | 39 | 1 (1.3%) | 77 |
Black Caribbean | 1 (3%) | 39 | 0 (0%) | 77 |
Employment | ||||
Yes | 16 (41%) | 39 | 32 (41.6%) | 77 |
No | 23 (59%) | 39 | 45 (58.4%) | 77 |
Household income | ||||
Above 200,000 USD | 6 (15%) | 39 | 15 (19.5%) | 77 |
100,000–200,000 USD | 8 (21%) | 39 | 11 (14.3%) | 77 |
75,000–100,000 USD | 9 (23%) | 39 | 14 (18.2%) | 77 |
50,000–75,000 USD | 5 (13%) | 39 | 9 (11.7%) | 77 |
30,000–50,000 USD | 5 (13%) | 39 | 13 (16.9%) | 77 |
15,000–30,000 USD | 5 (13%) | 39 | 8 (10.4%) | 77 |
other/not applicable | 1 (3%) | 39 | 4 (5.2%) | 77 |
International status | ||||
Yes | 5 (13%) | 39 | 17 (22.1%) | 77 |
No | 34 (87%) | 39 | 60 (77.9%) | 77 |
Clinical Characteristics | ||||
Elevated depression a | 17 (44%) | 39 | 27 (35.1%) | 77 |
Elevated anxiety b | 18 (46%) | 39 | 29 (37.7%) | 77 |
Elevated post-traumatic stress c | 29 (74%) | 39 | 57 (74%) | 77 |
Spiritual Characteristics | ||||
Religious affiliation | ||||
Buddhist | 0 (0%) | 39 | 1 (1.3%) | 77 |
Hindu | 2 (5%) | 39 | 1 (1.3%) | 77 |
Eastern Orthodox | 0 (0%) | 39 | 2 (2.6%) | 77 |
Jewish | 6 (15%) | 39 | 4 (5.2%) | 77 |
Muslim | 2 (5%) | 39 | 2 (2.6%) | 77 |
Protestant Christian | 5 (13%) | 39 | 9 (11.7%) | 77 |
Roman Catholic | 3 (8%) | 39 | 9 (11.7%) | 77 |
Other | 4 (10%) | 39 | 10 (13%) | 77 |
None | 17 (44%) | 39 | 39 (50.6%) | 77 |
Importance of religion or spirituality | ||||
Highly Important | 11 (28%) | 39 | 13 (16.9%) | 77 |
Moderately Important | 14 (36%) | 39 | 24 (31.2%) | 77 |
Slightly Important | 12 (31%) | 39 | 22 (28.6%) | 77 |
Not Important at All | 2 (5%) | 39 | 18 (23.4%) | 77 |
Importance of religion | ||||
Highly Important | 6 (15%) | 39 | 3 (11.1%) | 27 |
Moderately Important | 5 (13%) | 39 | 6 (22.2%) | 27 |
Slightly Important | 14 (36%) | 39 | 4 (14.8%) | 27 |
Not Important at All | 14 (36%) | 39 | 14 (51.9%) | 27 |
Importance of spirituality | ||||
Highly Important | 10 (26%) | 39 | 8 (29.6%) | 27 |
Moderately Important | 15 (39%) | 39 | 9 (33.3%) | 27 |
Slightly Important | 14 (36%) | 39 | 5 (18.5%) | 27 |
Not Important at All | 0 (0%) | 39 | 5 (18.5%) | 27 |
M (SD) | /n | M (SD) | /n | |
Age | 20.4 (1.52) | 39 | 19.5 (1.5) | 77 |
n | Rate (%) | |
---|---|---|
Attended required pre-group orientation session | 67 | -- |
Enrolled a | 60 | 90% |
Completed pretest and post-test measures (retention) b | 42 | 70% |
Attended ≥ 1 session | 54 | -- |
Attended ≥ 4 sessions (engagement) c | 37 | 69% |
Attended ≥ 1 session and completed post-test measures (AA-A group) d | 39 | -- |
Third Iteration: Affordances and Constraints Across Themes
|
Second Iteration: Pattern Variables 1A. Access to the community during COVID-19 1B. Access to community for people otherwise isolated (outside COVID) 1C. Peer relationships restricted without face-to-face interaction 2A. Increased access for commuters, people with disabilities, people who are socially anxious 2B. Support to spiritual journeys prompted by COVID-19 2C. Access to mental health resources during COVID-19 stress 2D. Decreased loneliness during COVID-19 isolation 3A. Harder to focus online 3B. Internet issues 3C. Bluelight/screen time 3D. Zoom platform did not get in the way of AA-A feeling distinct from a class 3E. Zoom breakout rooms 3F. Camera on/off |
First Iteration: Initial Codes 1A. Affordance: access to community during COVID-19 1C. Constraint: relationships restricted without face-to-face interaction 2A. Affordance: increased access for those with pain or disability 2A. Affordance: reduces feelings of social anxiety 2A. Affordance: population for whom AA online might be suited 2A. Affordance: more comfort/access 2B. Affordance: support to spiritual journey during COVID-19 2C. Affordance: access to meditation during COVID-19 isolation 2C. Affordance: access to mental health resources during COVID-19 stress 2D. Affordance: decreased loneliness 3A. Constraint: home environment associated with work 3A. Constraint: harder to focus online 3A. Affordance: easier to focus during meditation online with the camera off 3B. Constraint: internet issues 3C. Constraint: blue light/screen time 3D. Affordance: felt distinct from a class although on the same online platform (Zoom) 3E. Affordance: increased vulnerability 3E. Affordance: Zoom breakout rooms 3E. Constraint: Zoom breakout rooms can be awkward 3F. Affordance: privacy during meditation 3F. Affordance: camera on/off 3F. Constraint: camera on/off |
T1 | T2 | Paired Difference (T2 − T1) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical well-being | M (SD) | M (SD) | M (SD) | 95% CI | t (df) | p (one-tailed) | Cohen’s d |
Depression symptoms a | 8.87 (5.62) | 7.54 (5.21) | −1.33 (5.57) | −3.14, 0.47 | −1.49 (38) | 0.072 | −0.24 |
Anxiety symptoms b | 9.46 (6.14) | 7.41 (5.69) | −2.05 (5.96) | −3.98, −0.12 | −2.15 (38) | 0.019 ** | −0.34 |
Post-traumatic stress c | 41.79 (13.57) | 37.51 (11.93) | −4.28 (10.44) | −7.67, −0.90 | −2.56 (38) | 0.007 ** | −0.41 |
Spiritual well-being | |||||||
Awakened awareness d | 32.74 (6.55) | 34.79 (7.37) | 2.05 (5.51) | 0.26, 3.84 | 2.32 (38) | 0.013 ** | 0.37 |
Spirituality e | 100.51 (16.46) | 104.79 (18.56) | 4.28 (12.26) | 0.31, 8.26 | 2.18 (38) | 0.018 ** | 0.35 |
Spiritual growth f | 114.13 (39.56) | 118.38 (45.23) | 4.26 (36.01) | −7.42, 15.93 | 0.74 (38) | 0.233 | 0.12 |
Spiritual decline f | 35.59 (12.74) | 24.49 (11.15) | −11.1 (12.1) | −15.03, −7.18 | −5.73 (38) | <0.001 ** | −0.92 |
Dependent Variable | Predictor | df | Mean Square | F | η2 | p |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Depression symptoms a | (Intercept) | 1 | 137.44 | 5.71 | 0.049 | 0.019 * |
SGM status | 1 | 139.90 | 5.81 | 0.049 | 0.018 * | |
Delivery method | 1 | 0.58 | 0.004 | 0.000 | 0.961 | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 170.34 | 7.08 | 0.059 | 0.009 ** | |
Error | 112 | 24.06 | ||||
Anxiety symptoms b | (Intercept) | 1 | 285.87 | 10.00 | 0.082 | 0.002 ** |
SGM status | 1 | 40.60 | 1.42 | 0.013 | 0.236 | |
Delivery method | 1 | 4.13 | 0.14 | 0.001 | 0.705 | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 235.87 | 8.25 | 0.069 | 0.005 ** | |
Error | 112 | 28.58 | ||||
Post-traumatic stress c | (Intercept) | 1 | 2373.59 | 22.71 | 0.169 | <0.001 ** |
SGM status | 1 | 58.10 | 0.56 | 0.005 | 0.457 | |
Delivery method | 1 | 49.76 | 0.48 | 0.004 | 0.492 | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 100.81 | 0.97 | 0.009 | 0.328 | |
Error | 112 | 104.50 | ||||
Awakened Awareness d | (Intercept) | 1 | 768.71 | 26.12 | 0.239 | <0.001 ** |
SGM status | 1 | 183.00 | 6.22 | 0.070 | 0.015 * | |
Delivery method | 1 | 116.89 | 3.97 | 0.046 | 0.050 * | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 99.57 | 3.38 | 0.039 | 0.069 | |
Error | 83 | 29.44 | ||||
Spirituality e | (Intercept) | 1 | 4655.86 | 21.44 | 0.161 | <0.001 ** |
SGM status | 1 | 487.45 | 2.25 | 0.020 | 0.137 | |
Delivery method | 1 | 834.12 | 3.84 | 0.033 | 0.052 | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 657.79 | 3.03 | 0.026 | 0.085 | |
Error | 112 | 217.13 | ||||
Spiritual Growth f | (Intercept) | 1 | 3405.36 | 1.93 | 0.017 | 0.167 |
SGM status | 1 | 3491.41 | 1.99 | 0.017 | 0.162 | |
Delivery method | 1 | 762.58 | 0.43 | 0.004 | 0.512 | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 9456.83 | 5.37 | 0.046 | 0.022 * | |
Error | 112 | 1761.59 | ||||
Spiritual Decline f | (Intercept) | 1 | 10,433.45 | 50.98 | 0.313 | <0.001 ** |
SGM status | 1 | 145.58 | 0.71 | 0.006 | 0.401 | |
Delivery method | 1 | 57.47 | 0.28 | 0.003 | 0.597 | |
SGM status × delivery method | 1 | 136.83 | 0.67 | 0.006 | 0.415 | |
Error | 112 | 204.65 |
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Mistur, E.J.; Crete, A.A.; Scalora, S.C.; Anderson, M.R.; Chapman, A.L.; Miller, L. Awakened Awareness Online: Results from an Open Trial of a Spiritual–Mind–Body Wellness Intervention for Remote Undergraduate Students. Psychol. Int. 2025, 7, 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/psycholint7020032
Mistur EJ, Crete AA, Scalora SC, Anderson MR, Chapman AL, Miller L. Awakened Awareness Online: Results from an Open Trial of a Spiritual–Mind–Body Wellness Intervention for Remote Undergraduate Students. Psychology International. 2025; 7(2):32. https://doi.org/10.3390/psycholint7020032
Chicago/Turabian StyleMistur, Elisabeth J., Abigail A. Crete, Suza C. Scalora, Micheline R. Anderson, Amy L. Chapman, and Lisa Miller. 2025. "Awakened Awareness Online: Results from an Open Trial of a Spiritual–Mind–Body Wellness Intervention for Remote Undergraduate Students" Psychology International 7, no. 2: 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/psycholint7020032
APA StyleMistur, E. J., Crete, A. A., Scalora, S. C., Anderson, M. R., Chapman, A. L., & Miller, L. (2025). Awakened Awareness Online: Results from an Open Trial of a Spiritual–Mind–Body Wellness Intervention for Remote Undergraduate Students. Psychology International, 7(2), 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/psycholint7020032