Impact of cyclic meditation on stress among newly joined first year medical college students – A randomised controlled trial

A BSTRACT Background: The transition to medical school is a period of significant stress, necessitating accessible and effective interventions. Cyclic meditation (CM), a structured yoga-based practice alternating between stimulation and relaxation, has demonstrated stress-reducing potential in various populations, but its efficacy for new medical students remains underexplored. Objective: To evaluate the impact of an 8-week CM intervention on stress, stressor intensity, and anxiety among newly admitted 1 st -year medical students. Methodology: A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Seventy eligible students were randomly assigned to either the CM group ( n = 35; 25-min sessions, 5 days/week for 8 weeks) or a no-intervention control group (CG) ( n = 35). Outcomes assessed at baseline and 8 weeks included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a Stress Symptom Scale, and the medical student stressor questionnaire (MSSQ). Analysis was performed on 65 participants who completed the study (CM = 30 and control = 35). Results: While the PSS showed no significant between-group difference ( p = 0.89), the CM group demonstrated statistically significant reductions compared to the CG in Stress Symptom Scale scores and across all domains of the MSSQ ( p < 0.05). Linear regression indicated that receiving the CM intervention was a significant predictor of stress reduction (β =7.10, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CM is an effective intervention for reducing specific stress symptoms and academic stressors among new medical students. Integrating CM into the curriculum could serve as a feasible strategy to promote student well-being during this critical transition period.