Effects Of Meditation Research Articles

Altered states of leadership: mindfulness meditation, psychedelic use, and leadership development.

Previous research suggests that mindfulness meditation and psychedelic substances show promise as mental health interventions, but relatively little remains known about their potential impact on leadership outcomes. This study aimed to investigate if and how mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use may impact leadership among respondents with a management position as their primary role at work. Using samples representative of the US and UK adult populations with regard to sex, age, and ethnicity, this study used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine if and how mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use may impact leadership. Among respondents with a management position as their primary role at work (n = 3,150), 1,373 reported having tried mindfulness meditation and 559 reported having tried psychedelics. In covariate-adjusted regression analyses, both lifetime number of hours of mindfulness meditation practice and greater psychological insight during respondents' most intense psychedelic experience were associated with describing a positive impact on leadership (ORs = 2.33, 3.49; ps < 0.001), while qualitative analyses revealed nuances in the type of impacts mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use had on leadership. There were several subthemes (e.g., focus, creativity, patience, empathy, compassion) that were frequently reported with both mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use. There were also unique subthemes that were more commonly reported with mindfulness meditation (e.g., improved sleep, stress reduction, calming effects) and psychedelic use (e.g., greater self-understanding, less hierarchical attitudes toward colleagues, positive changes in interpersonal attitudes and behaviors), respectively. Although causality cannot be inferred due to the research design, the findings in this study suggest potential complementary effects of mindfulness meditation and psychedelic use on leadership, which could inspire new approaches in leadership development.

Breath, Love, Walk? The Impact of Mindfulness Interventions on Climate Policy Support and Environmental Attitudes

Mindfulness practices have the potential to induce the cognitive and behavioral changes needed to foster pro-environmental behavior and increase support toward sustainable and climate-oriented policies. However, the empirical evidence of the effectiveness of meditation on sustainable behavior is limited and mostly confined to correlational studies, often based on the same type of mindfulness interventions. In this paper, we report the results of an online experiment (n = 1000) comparing the impact of three different short-term mindfulness interventions on various (self-reported and incentivized) measures of mindfulness state and sustainable behavior. While only one of our interventions is found to impact environmental attitude and climate policy support directly, we show that the three meditation practices indirectly foster sustainable behavior through preidentified mediators. These results are relevant for organizations and policymakers who seek to foster climate policy support and environmental attitudes in their stakeholders.

Effectiveness of heartfulness meditation on cognitive and autonomic functions in women with premenstrual syndrome

Background: Heartfulness meditation is heart-based meditation that helps to balance the mental status. The relaxation offered by meditation is so valuable as it not only improves quality but also improves the quantity of life. However, there is a requirement for the long-term practice of these meditations to receive their effects. The relaxation offered by meditation is very promising that it causes improvement in cognitive functions and sleep patterns. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to observe the effectiveness of heartfulness meditation on cognitive and autonomic functions in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Materials and Methods: The present study was an experimental study. A total of forty females with PMS were part of the study. After recording the baseline values in the pre-menstrual period, the participants were trained in heartfulness meditation for weekdays by an expert. Later, they were asked to practice the heartfulness meditation daily for half an hour for 8 weeks at the meditation center of the college. After 8 weeks of practice of the heartfulness meditation, post-intervention values were recorded. Cognitive parameters were assessed using the spatial and verbal memory tests. Blood pressure and pulse rate were assessed using a diamond digital sphygmomanometer. Results: There was a significant improvement in spatial memory, and verbal memory scores followed by meditation. There was a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate followed by the intervention. Conclusion: The study results in support earlier studies as there was a significant improvement in the cognitive scores and a decrease in the autonomic parameters in the participants followed by the practice of the heartfulness meditation. Further detailed studies are recommended to support the incorporation of heartfulness meditation into the routine day lifestyle.

Effects of Vipassana Insight Meditation on Quality of Life and Plasma Endogenous Beta-endorphin Level in Registered Meditators Practicing Meditation at the Well-established Meditation Centres in Selangor

Effects of Vipassana Insight Meditation on Quality of Life and Plasma Endogenous Beta-endorphin Level in Registered Meditators Practicing Meditation at the Well-established Meditation Centres in Selangor

Effect of autogenic training and meditation on handball players ability to manage mental stress

Effect of autogenic training and meditation on handball players ability to manage mental stress

Effect of pranayama and mindfulness meditation on emotional distress and fatigue in adult hematological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hematological cancer patients often experience anxiety, depression, and fatigue during chemotherapy. Addressing these issues can improve the quality of life and long-term well-being. This study evaluated the effects of pranayama and mindfulness meditation intervention on emotional distress and fatigue in hematological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Adult hematological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (n = 27) were randomized into the intervention group (n = 12) or control group (n = 15). Baseline and post-6 weeks assessment was made using the Emotion Thermometer (ET) and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). The intervention included daily practice of slow-paced pranayama and mindfulness meditation for 15 min each. Results: Statistical software SPSS v20.0 was used for data analysis. Within the intervention group, the pre–post comparisons indicated a statistically significant reduction in distress (p = 0.002), anxiety (p = 0.02), anger (p = 0.03), depression (p = 0.004), and need for help (p = 0.0005) scores of ET. Total fatigue (p = 0.002), physical fatigue (p = 0.002), and mental fatigue (p = 0.002) scores of FAS declined significantly within the intervention group. There was no statistically significant improvement for any parameter of ET or FAS within the control group. Between the groups, comparison showed a statistically significant reduction in distress (p = 0.004), anxiety (p = 0.02), anger (p = 0.03), need for help (p &lt; 0.0005), total fatigue scores (p &lt; 0.0001), physical fatigue (p &lt; 0.0001), and mental fatigue (p &lt; 0.0001) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest the potential role of integrated pranayama and mindfulness meditation intervention in reducing emotional distress and fatigue in hematological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Further validation with a larger sample size is required.

Meditation and Cognitive Outcomes: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Data From the Health and Retirement Study 2000-2016.

We aimed to assess the association between meditation practice and cognitive function over time among middle-aged and older adults. We included Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants assessed for meditation practice in the year 2000 as part of the HRS alternative medicine module (n = 1,160) and were followed up for outcomes over 2000-2016 period. We examined the association between meditation ≥ twice a week vs none/less frequent practice and changes in the outcomes of recall, global cognitive function, and quantitative reasoning using generalized linear regression models. Stratified analyses among persons with/without self-reported baseline depressive symptoms were conducted to assess the link between meditation and cognitive outcomes. Among our full study sample, meditation ≥ twice a week was not significantly associated with total recall [; 95% CI: -0.97, 0.57; p = 0.61], global cognitive function [; 95% CI: -1.01, 1.12; p = 0.92], and quantitative reasoning [; 95% CI: -31.27, 8.32; p = 0.26]. However, among those who did not have self-reported depressive symptoms at baseline, meditation ≥ twice a week was associated with improvement in cognitive outcomes such as total recall [; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.18; p = 0.01] and global cognitive function [; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.40; p = 0.01] over time. Frequent meditation practice might have a protective effect on cognitive outcomes over time, but this protection could be limited to those without self-reported baseline depressive symptoms. Future studies could incorporate more precise meditation practice assessment, investigate the effect of meditation on cognitive outcomes over time, and include more rigorous study designs with randomized group assignment. This study is not preregistered.

Effect of Smriti Meditation in Generalized Anxiety Disorder - A Single Group Pre-Test - Post-Test Design

The prevalence rate of generalized anxiety disorder is increasing constantly in the modern era. In Ayurveda, the symptoms of this disease show a resemblance with the condition called Cittodvega (excited state of mind), which is one among the Manovikara in Ayurveda caused by dysfunction of increased Vata and Pitta dosha. The present study was conducted as a clinical trial to study the effect of Smriti meditation on ten diagnosed participants of generalized anxiety disorder within the age group of 18–60 years selected from the Manassanthi outpatient department of VPSV Ayurveda college, Kottakkal. 3-5 sessions of smriti meditation for 1-2 hours were done for all the participants within 15 days, and the follow-up assessment was done 1 week after the last meditation session. The Smriti meditation technique is an interactive guided psychotherapeutic meditation technique derived from the descriptions of Satvavavjaya chikitsa mentioned in Caraka Samhita. Assessment scores of different intervals were statistically analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Based on the results, it was found that smriti Meditation has a statistically significant effect in reducing the symptoms of all the domains of the Hamilton anxiety rating scale and also improves the quality of life of participants within a short period.

The Effect of Meditation-Based Interventions on Patients with Fatigue Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Persistent fatigue constitutes a prevalent and debilitating symptom in several diseases. The symptom is not effectively alleviated by pharmaceutical treatments, and meditation has been proposed as a non-pharmacological intervention. Indeed, meditation has been shown to reduce inflammatory/immune problems, pain, stress, anxiety and depression which are associated with pathological fatigue. This review synthesizes data from randomized control trials (RCTs) that explored the effect of meditation-based interventions (MeBIs) on fatigue in pathological conditions. Eight databases were searched from inception to April 2020. Thirty-four RCTs met eligibility criteria and covered six conditions (68% cancer), 32 of which were included in the meta-analysis. The main analysis showed an effect in favor of MeBIs compared to control groups (g = 0.62). Separate moderator analyses assessing control group, pathological condition, and MeBI type, highlighted a significantly moderating role of the control group. Indeed, compared to actively controlled studies, studies using a passive control group were associated with a statistically significantly more beneficial impact of the MeBIs (g = 0.83). These results indicate that MeBIs alleviate pathological fatigue and it seems that the studies with a passive control group showed a greater effect of MeBI on the reduction of fatigue compared to studies using active control groups. However, the specific effect of meditation type and pathological condition should be analyzed with more studies, and there remains a need to assess meditation effects on different types of fatigue (i.e., physical and mental) and in additional conditions (e.g., post-COVID-19).

The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Nursing Students' Stress and Anxiety Levels.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a virtual mindfulness meditation intervention on stress and anxiety levels of 145 nursing students. Because of the twin demands of classroom and clinical workloads, nursing students experience greater amounts of stress and anxiety than the average college student. Mindfulness meditation is a promising method to alleviate stress and anxiety. A pretest-posttest randomized controlled design was used. Participants received either weekly mindfulness meditation recordings or recordings on nursing information. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale. A two-way mixed analysis of variance and follow-up simple main effects tests revealed that participants in the experimental group, who received meditation recordings, experienced significantly lower levels of stress and anxiety on posttest surveys than the control group. Mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety levels in nursing students. This can improve students' overall mental and physical well-being.

Impact of Long-Term Shaolin Zen Meditation on Emotional Processing in Aging: A Visual ERP Study.

The aging process is always accompanied by a decline in cognitive and emotional functions. Although previous studies have identified the positive effects of different meditative practices on emotional and cognitive functions, few studies have investigated the most primitive Chinese meditation-Shaolin Zen meditation. In particular, data are extremely limited regarding the brain mechanism of the effects of Shaolin Zen meditation on cognitive and emotional functions during aging. The current study aimed to explore the effects of long-term Shaolin Zen meditation practice on event-related potentials (ERPs) during facial emotion recognition in aging. ERPs were recorded from 16 monks with long-term meditation experience and 20 controls without meditation experience. The significant age-related degenerative changes in the early ERP components did not present in the meditators but only in the controls without meditation experience. Additionally, we found no group differences in the late P3 component. These findings suggest that long-term Shaolin Zen meditation practice can counteract the age-related cognitive decline in the "down-top" automatic processing of emotional stimuli.

Understanding the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Combined with Aromatherapy to Enhance the Wellbeing of MCAST Beauty Therapy Students: A Narrative Study

This study looks at the effects of the combined practice of mindful meditation and aromatherapy on the wellbeing of MCAST beauty therapy students, potentially providing resources that can help them deal with various stressors. The researchers use a qualitative narrative inquiry approach to draw meaning and understanding emerging from the participants' experiences. Three MCAST beauty therapy students participated in this study. The research design of this study consists of six stages: the discussion and planning stage between researchers to identify the best course for the research process; a pre-session held with the three participants; weekly mindful meditation sessions for six weeks; individual interviews with each participant, followed by a focus group; and, finally, the development of the analysis of narrative and narrative analysis. To examine the data for the emergent themes, the researchers chose to use thematic narrative analysis as it focuses on the told (Riessman 2008). In this case, the told, emerging from the voice of the participants and reflexivity of the researchers, is what helped identify the common patterns found across the narratives. To facilitate the process, MAXQDA software was used.Mindful meditation was found to enhance ones self-awareness and wellbeing, which in turn positively affects the individuals approach towards ones personal and professional realm. Additionally, the findings indicate that through mindfulness it is possible to achieve academic beneficence as well as enhance ones intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, in turn providing students with the highly demanded twenty-first-century skills needed to distinguish ones professional ability.

Impact of Pyramid Meditation On Anxiety and Stress Among Youth

A pyramid is a polyhedron with any base and three or more triangular faces that meet at a point called an apex or a pyramid is a three-dimensional shape with triangular sides. The pyramidal structure is a storehouse of energy. The pyramid is said to have the power to heal your chakras and align your mind. There are three main examples of a pyramid in our real life, are perfume bottles, tents in military camps and the roof of a house. Pyramid meditation is designed to increase vision and for other many benefits such as strengthening eye muscles, improving hearing, lowering blood pressure, relieving arthritis symptoms and treating insomnia. It can also help improve memory and cognitive function, as well as healthy skin and hormonal balance. Now a day, anxiety and stress are common problem among the youth. This study talks about the effect of Pyramid meditation on the variables of stress and anxiety among adults. There are 200 participants participated in this survey out of which 100 were meditation practitioners and other 100 participants were non-practitioners. To assess the level of anxiety, Beck Anxiety Inventory and for stress, perceived stress scale by Cohen were administered. The data was processed using statistical computations like mean, median, mode and standard deviation. The results reflected a significant difference between the scores of meditation practitioners and non-practitioner youths. It was found that those who practice pyramid meditation had considerably low level of anxiety and stress than that of those who do not meditate.

Mindfulness Meditation According to the Satipatthana Sutta: A Single-Case Study With Participants as Collaborators

ObjectivesWe explored the effects of a mindfulness program based on the satipatthana sutta (instead of a contemporary Western program), with participants as collaborators, using a single-case experimental design. The main question was whether such a training has positive effects and, if so, whether and how the effects vary across participants and measures.MethodParticipants chose the design (multiple baseline) and the measures to be repeatedly collected. Then they took part in a 6-week mindfulness training based on the satipatthana sutta; finally, they performed a preliminary data analysis of their own results. Reported are a selection of the visual analyses, intraindividual effect sizes (Tau-U), and the results of single-case meta-analyses over participants, as well as a multivariate graphical analysis of interindividual differences.ResultsSubstantial training effects were found on average and for the majority of participants for concentration, mind wandering, decentering, positive affect, and well-being. Effects were small for negative affect, and no effects were found for emotion regulation. However, interindividual variation was high, both in respect to specific measures and concerning the overall effect of the training program. Participants' motivation was found to be very high throughout the study.ConclusionOur findings indicate that a traditional mindfulness program yields effects that are roughly comparable to the effects of secular mindfulness training regimens. Regarding participants as collaborators appears to have a strong motivating effect. And finally, the study demonstrates that using single-case experimental designs (instead of group designs) allows for a more fine-grained analysis of meditation effects. The high interindividual variation points to the possibility that the amount of unexplained variance in group studies is severely underestimated. Results from studies like the current one could have benefits for both theoretical advancement and custom-tailored assignment of specific forms of meditation to specific people with specific aims.

0862 Effect of meditation and relaxation on physiological markers of stress and sleep

Abstract Introduction Both breathing based meditation (interoceptive) and relaxation by improving blood circulation using heat and massage (exteroceptive) are known to reduce physiological stress. In this study, we determined the effect of stress-reduction on sleep. Our main population of interest was peri- and post- menopausal women who may develop sleep disorders correlated with early-life physical abuse. Methods 20 adults (15 peri- and post-menopausal females), 13 with high risk of sleep apnea (determined by Berlin questionnaire, age mean±SEM, 54±3 years, waist-by-neck 2.6±0.07, BMI 26±1 kg/m2, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) Scale 5.71±1.23, Generalized Anxiety (GAD-7) Score 5.33±1.22, Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report Short Form (ETISR-SF)physical 3±0.17. Dreem3 headband was used to get breathing rate (BR), sleep efficiency, sleep staging. Plethysmography was used to obtain mean and nadir oxygen saturation %, heart rate (HR), oxygen desaturation (4%) event index (ODI). BMI, age, waist/neck were recorded. Baseline sleep measures were compared against sleep after administration of 10 minutes rest, 10 minutes relaxation and 10 minutes of Ujjayi pranayama with repeats of 4 in-, 4 hold-, 6 out- breaths. ETISR-physical was correlated with all measures. Paired t-tests were conducted on sleep measures at baseline and after meditation/relaxation. One-sample t-tests were conducted on average % changes during meditation/relaxation compared to rest. Results Early-life physical trauma correlated positively with BR during REM sleep (Pearson R= 0.68). Deep sleep significantly (p=0.04) increased by 5% on the sleep after meditation/relaxation. Both meditation and relaxation techniques significantly (p&amp;lt; 0.01) lowered HR by 1.5% and 4.5%, and BR by 20% and 15% respectively during Ujjayi pranayama and relaxation. We observed significant increase (p&amp;lt; 0.05) in oxygen saturation with the Ujjayi pranayama by 0.3%. Conclusion Early-life physical abuse was correlated with faster breathing during REM sleep validating existing literature. Both HR and BR were reduced during meditation and relaxation techniques, thus validating their stress-reduction effects. % of deep sleep improved on the night when meditation/relaxation session was administered. Mind-body practices could improve deep sleep if practiced regularly even in peri- and post-menopausal women having early-life physical abuse trauma. Support (if any) Sleep Research Society (SRS) Small Research Grant 2022.

Sleep quality as a mediator of the relationship between screen time and negative emotions among Chinese college freshmen

ABSTRACT College freshmen are special populations facing great challenges in adapting to the brand new environment, and their lifestyle and emotional states are worthy of attention. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, their screen time and prevalence of negative emotions were significantly increased, but few studies have focused on such situation of college freshmen and illustrated relevant mechanisms. Thus, based on a sample of Chinese college freshmen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current study aimed to investigate the association between their screen time and negative emotions (depression, anxiety and stress), and further explore the mediating effects of sleep quality. Data from 2,014 college freshmen was analyzed. The screen time was self-reported by participants using predesigned questionnaires. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Chinese Version of Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were used to assess sleep quality and emotional states, respectively. The mediation analysis was conducted to examine the meditation effect. Results indicated that participants with negative emotions tended to have longer daily screen time and worse sleep quality, sleep quality partially mediated the association between screen time and negative emotions.The critical role of sleep quality and related intervention measures should be recognized and implemented.

The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Burnout and Perceived Stress among Muslim Students: A Quasi-experimental Approach‏

Mindfulness occurs in different populations, regardless of their religions, ages, and cultures, but the studies on Muslim backgrounds are insufficient. This study aims to empirically investigate mindfulness's benefits on academic outcomes among Yemeni students. A total of 160 Yemeni students were recruited to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and divided into two groups (experimental group = 80, control group = 80). The experimental group received mindfulness training, while the control group did not receive any training. After the experiment, both groups completed the questionnaires again. The results revealed that the experimental group's emotional exhaustion, cynicism, lack of academic efficacy, and perceived stress were decreased compared to the control group. We concluded that mindfulness meditation training decreased academic burnout and stress among Yemeni students. We suggest mindfulness meditation training could be a good program for decreasing academic problems among Muslim students.

The effect of a 7‐day intensive Buddhist meditation on existential isolation, interpersonal isolation, and compassion among South Koreans

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of an intensive Buddhist (Zen) meditation practice on reductions in existential isolation and increases in prosocial behavior. This study also examines whether the hypothesized reduction in existential isolation resulting from the intensive meditation practice predicts other‐focused compassion. Study 1 utilized a quasi‐experimental design to investigate the effects of meditation on existential isolation and other compassion by comparing healthy Koreans who completed a 7‐day intensive silent Zen meditation (n = 35) with those who completed a 7‐day vacation (n = 30). All participants completed measures twice: at baseline and after either their meditation retreat or their vacation. Study 2 used a longitudinal design to investigate whether Study 1 findings would replicate among 75 new TempleStay program participants. In Study 1, relative to participants in the vacation group, participants in the meditation group experienced reduced existential isolation and increased other‐focused compassion from Time 1 to Time 2. Reductions in existential isolation mediated the increases in other‐focused compassion. In Study 2, after a 1‐week intensive meditation training, participants experienced a reduction in existential isolation and an increased in other‐focused compassion; again, the reductions in existential isolation mediated increases in other‐focused compassion. Across two studies, we found evidence of reduced existential isolation and increased other‐focused compassion following an intensive Zen‐meditation practice. These results indicate that meditation practice may help people who suffer from existential isolation, as well as the people with whom they interact.

Impact Of Meditation On Mental Health And Well-Being

With a growing interest in meditation as a means of enhancing overall well-being, it is essential to understand the effects of meditation on mental health outcomes. The review reveals consistent findings indicating that meditation practices have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that individuals who engage in regular meditation exhibit lower levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Controlled studies, including randomized controlled trials, provide stronger evidence, showing that meditation interventions effectively reduce symptoms of mental health disorders and improve psychological well-being. Intervention studies further highlight the benefits of meditation practices in improving attention, cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and overall subjective well-being. The findings suggest that meditation practices can be valuable tools for promoting mental health and well-being. It highlights the potential of meditation as an effective approach for reducing symptoms of mental health disorders, enhancing psychological well-being, and improving overall quality of life. However, there are areas in need of further research, such as understanding the underlying mechanisms of action, determining optimal dosage and duration of meditation practice, and exploring the long-term effects of meditation.

N°24 – Chronic effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on the human brain electrical activity in professional firefighters: A LORETA study

N°24 – Chronic effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on the human brain electrical activity in professional firefighters: A LORETA study