Development of the Online Mindfulness-based Intervention (Mind Space Application) for Thai-university Students: Phase II

Development of the Online Mindfulness-based Intervention (Mind Space Application) for Thai-university Students: Phase II

Development of the online mindfulness-based intervention (MFU-mindful Application for Thai university students: Phase II

Objectives:

Phase I: (October 2025 to September 2026)

1. To develop the mindfulness-based intervention (Mind Space application) for Thai university students.
2. To test the feasibility of the mindfulness-based intervention (Mind space Application) for Thai university students.
3. To determine the effect size of mindfulness-based intervention (Mind space Application) on mental health outcomes for Thai university students: A pilot study. Phase II: (October 2026 to December 2026)

1. To examine the effects of mindfulness-base intervention (Mindspace Application) on mental health outcomes for Thai university students For this research project, investigators will develop the mindfulness-based intervention (Mindspace application) based on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) by encouraging participants to pay attention to their present thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. This attention will help them learn the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and their mental health outcomes (mindfulness, stress, anxiety, and depression), though. mindfulness practice (body scan, sitting meditation, and mindful movement) using an online application). Furthermore, investigators will teach participants how to shape their thoughts and manage their wandering minds and negative and irritable thoughts. Finally, participants will learn how to become an individual with reasonable flexibility and positive thoughts.

Settings: the researchers plan to conduct the program in three universities in Northern Thailand.

Population and sample:

Population: Thai university students who are between years 1 and 4 (undergraduate).

Sample:

Phase I: Mae Fah Luang University, Phayao University, and Utraradit University students who are studying during the Fall semester, year 2026. Investigators will specifically recruit volunteers who:

Inclusion criteria:

1. are current studying in years 1-4 of undergraduate programs
2. can read, speak, and write in Thai
3. be risk of the mental health problem (score higher than 6 on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28)
4. have no history of learning disorders (ADHD, other specific learning disorders)
5. have no psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, adjustment disorders, delusion disorders, and substance use disorders)
6. have no meditation experience within the past 6 months

Exclusion criteria:

1. have a limitation for mindful movement (hearing loss, blindness, and movement limitations)
2. They may feel uncomfortable or distressed and may not be able to participate in each mindfulness-based intervention session.

Conceptual frameworks. For this research project, the investigators will develop and refine an online mindfulness-based intervention, the Mind Space Application, grounded in the principles of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn, 2003) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT; Segal et al., 2002). The program is designed to cultivate nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors among university students (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). In addition, it aims to enhance participants' understanding of the interrelationships among cognitions, emotions, affective experiences, and behaviors that contribute to psychological distress, including stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

The intervention incorporates core mindfulness practices delivered via an online application, including body scan exercises, sitting meditation, and mindfulness-based movement for relaxation. Furthermore, participants will be guided to develop cognitive awareness and adaptive responses to internal and external stressors, with particular emphasis on recognizing and managing automatic thoughts (wandering mind), negative thoughts, and irrational or maladaptive cognitions. Through this process, participants are encouraged to cultivate more rational, flexible, and positive thinking patterns.

The researchers anticipate that this program will enhance mindfulness skills and, in turn, contribute to reductions in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among the study participants.

The effectiveness of the Mind Space application will be examined across both short-term and long-term periods. Short-term effects will be assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks), while long-term effectiveness will be evaluated at a 6-month follow-up. Outcomes in the intervention group will be compared with those in a control group. The primary outcome variables include mental health indicators-stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms-as well as levels of mindfulness among Thai university students. Data will be analyzed using a one-way repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Inclusion Criteria: the researchers will specifically recruit volunteers who:

1. are current studying in years 1-4 of undergraduate programs
2. can read, speak, and write in Thai
3. be risk of the mental health problem (score higher than 6 on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28))
4. have no history of learning disorders (ADHD, other specific learning disorders)
5. have no psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, adjustment disorders, delusion disorders, and substance use disorders)
6. have no meditation experience within the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria: the researchers will exclude the volunteers who;

1. have a limitation for mindful movement (hearing loss, blindness, and movement limitations)
2. uncomfortable or feel distress and cannot participate in each mindfulness-based intervention session