Fostering Mental Well-being, Mindfulness and Self-Esteem amongst students of higher Education

Abstract

The relationship between mindfulness, self-esteem, and mental well-being has garnered significant scholarly interest in recent years, especially as individuals across the globe face rising psychological distress, stress, and identity challenges. Mindfulness, often defined as the non-judgmental awareness of the present moment (Kabat-Zinn, 2003), has shown promising associations with psychological constructs like self-esteem and overall well-being. This review synthesizes recent empirical research (post-2020) to explore how mindfulness relates to self-esteem and mental well-being, and how these elements interact to promote psychological resilience and life satisfaction. Mindfulness has long been appreciated as a cognitive and emotional skill that cultivates present-moment awareness. More recently, its impact on self-perception—specifically self-esteem—has become a focus of psychological research. This research set out to examine how mindfulness, self-esteem, and mental well-being are interrelated in the context of higher education students. The findings highlighted meaningful connections among these variables, emphasizing their collective role in promoting robust mental health and emotional resilience among students.