Sustainable campus well-being through culturally adapted mindfulness
Evidence from Vietnamese universities
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21600929 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Quoc Dung Ngo (0000-0002-0496-8372, National Economics University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-15 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0965-4283 • E-ISSN: 1758-714X |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/he-07-2025-0118 |
| OpenAlex | W7161295845 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 24 |
Purpose This qualitative investigation explores Vietnamese university students’ experiences of culturally adapted mindfulness practices within sustainable campus well-being frameworks, examining how traditional Vietnamese values intersect with environmental management systems to inform culturally responsive support initiatives aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 and SDG 4. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study employing hybrid inductive–deductive thematic analysis was conducted with 25 Vietnamese university students (aged 18–24) across three major cities. Semi-structured interviews explored participants’ experiences of mindfulness practices, cultural influences on well-being conceptualisation and interactions with campus environmental contexts. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework, enhanced by systematic reflexivity processes, cultural consultation and member checking procedures. Findings Four interconnected themes emerged demonstrating how Vietnamese cultural values can strengthen university sustainability initiatives: Academic Achievement as Sustainable Educational Success (endorsed by 76% of participants), Face Culture and Sustainable Mental Health Systems (84% endorsement), Adapted Mindfulness as Sustainable Campus Coping Strategy (72% endorsement) and Collective Support Systems as Sustainable University Operations (92% endorsement). Divergent perspectives revealed important nuances in cultural adaptation requirements. Originality/value This research contributes a novel culturally grounded framework for sustainable campus wellbeing, empirically demonstrating how traditional Vietnamese values can enhance rather than constrain university environmental management systems. The findings address critical gaps in culturally responsive sustainability programming, providing evidence that effective interventions require cultural integration rather than accommodation
Cultural diversity · Mindfulness · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Thematic analysis · Vietnamese · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Service-Learning and Community Engagement · Sustainability in Higher Education
Ecological validity and cultural sensitivity for outcome research
Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies
Sustainability management control systems in higher education institutions from measurement to management
Academic stress and depression among vietnamese adolescents
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
The psychometric properties of the Vietnamese Version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Protocol for a cluster-randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression, implemented in Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda
No implementation without cultural adaptation
Campus Green Spaces, Academic Achievement and Mental Health of College Students
Impacts of Covid-19 crisis and some related factors on the mental health of 37150 Vietnamese students
Whole Institution Approach
Wellbeing and Sustainability
The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits
| Highly cited | No |
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