The impact of daily self-reiki on perceived stress and well-being in college students

Objective: This study investigated the effects of self-Reiki on stress levels in college students. Reiki, a biofield complementary therapy within integrative medicine, has been shown to promote relaxation. While Reiki research is growing, studies on self-Reiki remain limited. Given the impact of stress on health, this study is highly relevant. Participants: Thirty-six college students (ages 18–35) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 18) and practiced self-Reiki for 10 min daily, or a crossover control group (n = 18), which read health articles before transitioning to self-Reiki at Week 4. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design integrated quantitative and qualitative data. Stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and General Well-Being Schedule before and after a 4-week intervention. Results: Statistical analysis showed significant stress reduction and increased well-being after the intervention. Conclusions: Qualitative data supported these findings, suggesting self-Reiki as an effective stress mitigator for college students.