Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Mobile Application for Students: Needs Assessment and Development Proposal

This study investigates university students’ needs for a mindfulness-based stress reduction mobile application. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for developing digital psychological support tools in response to increasing mental health pressures. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 428 students aged 18 to 25 who provided valid responses. The findings indicate that students are currently facing multiple overlapping stressors, with academic and examination pressure (68.0%) and anxiety about future careers (61.4%) as the primary contributors. Although 69.6% of the surveyed students reported basic awareness of mindfulness practices, the rate of regular practice is only 4.4%. This gap between awareness and action mainly stems from barriers such as boredom, difficulty concentrating, and lack of time. Furthermore, 67.2% of participants affirmed the necessity of a specialized psychological support mobile application, indicating a strong intrinsic demand for flexible technological solutions. In terms of aesthetic preferences, students favored minimalist interfaces with subdued color palettes (43.7%) or vivid, calming designs (34.3%). Based on these findings, the study proposes developing a technological solution integrating personalized pathways, a daily reminder notification system, and diversified content such as instructional videos and relaxation games. These features aim to help students overcome technical and psychological barriers and transform their interest into a sustainable habit of mental health self-care within the university environment.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

1. Huberty, J., Green, J., Gladden, C., Ransdell, L., Davidson, C., Bull, S., & Stewart, D. (2019). Efficacy of the mindfulness meditation mobile app “Calm” to reduce stress among college students: Randomized controlled trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(6), e14273. https://doi.org/10.2196/14273 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Pham, H. Y. (2025). Factors affecting university students’ mental health and support solutions. Journal of Psychology and Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Phan, C. P. (2020). Stress, anxiety, depression, and related factors among students of Hanoi University of Languages and International Studies in 2019 (Master’s thesis, Hanoi Medical University). Hanoi Medical University Institutional Repository. http://dulieuso.hmu.edu.vn/handle/hmu/1059 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. (2023). Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Prime Minister of Vietnam. (2021). Decision No. 1660/QĐ-TTg approving the School Health Program for the period 2021–2025. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Vu, X. H. (2025). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on mental health and academic performance among university students. North American Journal of Psychology, 27(1), 149–158. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study