Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42237303›Full record

Trial reportBMC psychology2026

Comparing the effects of sitting meditation and body scan on working memory in undergraduate healthcare students: a single-blind randomised trial.

Weeranan Yaemrattanakul, Kanokwan Manachamni, Jutharat Ruangrattanapong, Worawadee Supajumroon, Worravat Intarapakdee, Kanokwalin Klangkhong, Kanjanaporn Wannasangthong, Nureeda Madhay, Patchanee Kaewkeaw, Korawat Paphatarinan and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Weeranan YaemrattanakulDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Kanokwan ManachamniDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Jutharat RuangrattanapongDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Worawadee SupajumroonDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Worravat IntarapakdeeDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Kanokwalin KlangkhongDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Kanjanaporn WannasangthongDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Nureeda MadhayDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Patchanee KaewkeawDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Korawat PaphatarinanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
Lalita KhunaSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. lalitakhuna@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3224-1653

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare undergraduate students often face high cognitive and emotional stress, negatively affecting their working memory and well-being. Mindfulness-based practices, such as sitting meditation and body scan, are proposed to enhance cognitive function and reduce stress in this population. This study compared the effects of brief sitting meditation and body scan on working memory, mindfulness, and stress among undergraduate healthcare students.

methodsIn this assessor-blind randomised trial conducted at a tertiary university in southern Thailand, 56 healthcare undergraduates (aged 18-25) were randomised to either a sitting meditation group (n = 28) or a body scan group (n = 28). Fifty-four participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis (n = 27 per group). Participants practised their assigned mindfulness exercise via audio recordings for 10 min daily, five days a week, for four weeks. Outcomes were measured pre- and post-intervention using the Automated Operation Span Task for working memory, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale for mindfulness, and Thai Perceived Stress Scale-10 for stress.

resultsBoth groups showed significant changes in working memory and mindfulness over time. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two interventions. Stress scores changed slightly over time; however, no significant difference was observed between the sitting meditation and body scan groups. Overall, no significant between-group differences were found in any outcome.

conclusionsBoth sitting meditation and body scan were associated with changes in working memory and mindfulness over time among undergraduate healthcare students. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups.

Indexed as

MeditationMemory, Short-TermMindfulnessSitting PositionStress, PsychologicalStudents, Health OccupationsAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleSingle-Blind MethodSubjective StressThailandYoung AdultBody scanSitting meditationStressWorking memory

Identifiers

PMID42237303
PMCPMC13450059

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.