Mindfulness-based practices are used to regulate mood, alleviate or completely eliminate symptoms that cause stress and depression, and positively influence well-being. The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program is a mindfulness approach applied to individuals with physical and psychological complaints and aims to reduce stress levels (Kral et al., 2022).
The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program is a widely used meditation practice that includes individual or group practices aimed at creating awareness in individuals, such as breath awareness meditation, body scan, walking meditation, and yoga, taught by a practitioner. Each of the practices involves focusing attention on the experience of the present moment (Kral et al., 2022). However, it aims for individuals under stress to respond consciously to situations instead of automatically reacting (Gotink et al., 2016). Unlike traditional meditation, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program is based on focused attention, the individual's clear observation of themselves and events, and breath meditation. The aim is for individuals to recognize their automatic responses to events and to transform their existing responses without judgment (Gotink et al., 2016).
The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction training program on emotion regulation and stress levels of nursing students, thereby enabling them to gain competence in this area.