Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Physical Activity Programme on Stress and Wellbeing Among Nursing Students in Rivers State

Nursing education places substantial psychological demands on students, and innovative wellbeing interventions combining physical activity with mindfulness principles offer a promising strategy for addressing stress without requiring significant time investment. This study evaluates the effect of a mindfulness-based physical activity programme on perceived stress and subjective wellbeing among nursing students in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A randomised controlled trial design was employed, with 120 nursing students from two schools of nursing randomly assigned to an eight-week mindfulness-based physical activity group or a waitlist control. The intervention combined moderate-intensity exercise sessions with mindfulness-informed breathing, body scan, and reflective practices. Perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale and wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, administered at baseline, post-intervention, and at a six-week follow-up. Findings reveal statistically significant reductions in perceived stress and improvements in mental wellbeing scores in the intervention group at post-intervention, with effects maintained at follow-up. Improvements are most pronounced among students in clinical placement years reporting highest baseline stress. Session attendance rate is 84 percent, and programme acceptability ratings are high, with participants valuing the dual relaxation and physical activity benefits. Recommendations include integrating mindfulness-based physical activity programming into nursing school welfare provisions, training facilitators in combined mindfulness and exercise delivery, and adopting the programme model for other healthcare professional training contexts. Keywords: mindfulness, physical activity, stress, nursing students, Rivers State