Self-Efficacy and Well-Being among Students: Role of Goal Meditation

Abstract

Due to stressful environment as a result of academic, career, parental, and societal pressures that students face today, high stress, anxiety, depression, and conflict are very common. Students with high caliber can be seen to wander aimlessly, which can be an alarming situation. This study took a lead from the ancient Indian philosophy of practicing yoga and meditation to start the day to combat the above situation. Meditation enables one to focus on the present moment, leading to a state of thoughtless awareness. The study aimed at training students in a particular way, so that they can keep clear of unproductive and aimless approach and concentrate their energy and creativity on their goal of life. The objective of the study was to observe self-efficacy and well-being among students in a pre- and post-test design to investigate the effect of goal meditation as an intervention. Sixteen postgraduate students (age range 22 to 24 years) selected through purposive sampling participated in the study with their due consent. The post-test data on self-efficacy and well-being were gathered six months after the administration of the intervention. Data analysis employed the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results indicated significant differences in pre- and post-intervention measures of self-efficacy and well-being. Based on these results, it was concluded that goal meditation is effective in enhancing self-efficacy and well-being among students.