The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) interventions on nursing student performance and well-being: A systematic review

Background: With a projected shortage of nearly 200,000 Registered Nurses by 2031, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)'s 2020 resolution underscored the urgent need to integrate stress management and resilience in nursing education, yet the application of MBSR interventions remains underexplored despite its documented effectiveness in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among practicing nurses. Aim: This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions on nursing students' mental health, academic performance, and clinical outcomes. Method: Seven databases and two registries were searched for published and unpublished literature through November 2025. Quantitative, experimental, quasi-experimental, or single-group studies explicitly involving nursing student populations were included. Results: Of the 2367 results, 27 met the inclusion criteria for review: ten randomized control trials (RCTs), six quasi-experimental with a control, and eleven single-group studies. Only six studies examined traditional MBSR, and the remaining twenty-one were modified versions of MBSR. All studies included mental health outcomes, five included academic performance outcomes, and one assessed clinical performance. Most of the studies reported that MBSR interventions have the potential to improve nursing students' well-being. Conclusion: Despite the limited research on MBSR interventions in nursing students, there are promising results for mental health benefits. Academic and clinical performance outcomes are currently understudied.