Comparative Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Health Outcomes in Nursing Students Taking Medical–Surgical Clinical Training: Mixed‐Method Study

Background Nursing students taking medical–surgical clinical courses often experience stress, negatively affecting cognitive, emotional and physical health. Although the mindfulness meditation (MM) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) are evidence‐based interventions, there is limited evidence on their comparative effects across different health domains in this population. Objectives To assess the distinct effects of MM and PMR across multiple health domains—cognitive (e.g., trait mindfulness and executive functioning), emotional (e.g., stress, anxiety, and depression), and physical symptoms—among Jordanian nursing students in medical–surgical clinical training. Method The study used a convergent parallel mixed‐methods design. A random allocation of 162 undergraduate nursing students into three groups was conducted: MM group ( n = 54), PMR group ( n = 54), and control group ( n = 54). The groups attended five weekly 30‐min sessions about their assigned intervention. Pre‐ and postintervention quantitative results were tested using validated measures of executive functioning, trait mindfulness, emotional symptoms, and physical symptoms. Study outcomes were categorized into three distinct domains and evaluated at baseline and postintervention using validated self‐report instruments: the emotional domain (including stress as the primary outcome, alongside anxiety and depression), the cognitive domain (executive functioning and trait mindfulness), and the somatic domain (physical symptoms). Structured questionnaires, which focused on students’ experiences and perceptions, were used to collect qualitative data after the intervention. Results Trait mindfulness and stress improved significantly more in MM and PMR groups compared with control group. MM had significantly greater effects on the reduction of executive dysfunction, physical symptoms, and anxiety as compared to control groups and PMR. For depression, MM group significantly performed superior to control group, but it was not any superior to PMR. The results were supported by qualitative results; MM participants described enhanced concentration and sense of well‐being, and PMR participants stated physical relaxation, and better sleep. The major barriers included time constraints and difficulty in remembering PMR sequences. Conclusions MM and PMR are useful for the well‐being of nursing students, especially during stressful clinical training. However, MM showed increased and wider effects on symptoms. The inclusion of mind‐body interventions into nursing training programs can offer support to students’ mental and physical wellbeing, when undergoing high‐stress training in the clinical setting. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05172804