Sage Open
April 1, 2021
Chu Wang, Jiayao Xu, Mufan Wang et al.
7 citations
Among 1,451 students at a Chinese university, 63.61% reported having nightmares in the past year, and 4.69% were diagnosed with nightmare disorder, with a higher prevalence in women. Patients with nightmare disorder scored higher on measures of nightmare experience and depressive mood than healthy students. Depression scores correlated with physical effects of nightmares in patients and with negative emotions in healthy students. These findings highlight the prevalence and impact of nightmare disorder in university populations.
Sage Open
October 1, 2025
Andréa Oddos, Guy Gimenez, S. Khalfa
Nondual awareness (NDA) is a unified, unchanging state of consciousness without other mental contents, often achieved through contemplative practices and linked to well-being. This study validated a French version of the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment-Trait (NADA-T) scale, which measures predisposition to NDA during mindfulness meditation or experiences with reduced mental activity. Among 294 French-speaking students who completed an online survey, the original scale structure—one global factor (NDA) and two specific factors (self-transcendence and bliss)—showed very good statistical indicators. Convergent and discriminant validity were also good. Recommendations included reformulating two items. The preliminary French version shows acceptable psychometric properties in a student population, but further studies are needed to confirm factor structure, test temporal stability, and extend results to other populations.
Sage Open
June 14, 2019
Siobhan Lynch, Marie-Louise Gander, Ananda Nahar et al.
An 8-week mindfulness program adapted for university students, Mindfulness-Based Coping With University Life (MBCUL), led to significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, along with increased mindfulness, compared with a wait-list control group. The study involved students from the University of Northampton (mean age 25 in the mindfulness group, 28 in controls). Attrition was high and the sample small, limiting generalizability, but the results suggest MBCUL is an acceptable and useful program that merits further study with larger samples.
Sage Open
January 26, 2017
Elizabeth McCay, Rachael Frankford, Heather Beanlands et al.
An 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group intervention reduced psychological distress and improved self-esteem, resilience, and well-being for individuals with chronic illness or other health challenges. In a pilot study with 42 enrolled patients, 35 completed the intervention and 28 provided pre- and posttest data. Statistically significant improvements appeared on measures of depression, anxiety, stress, affect balance, resilience, and well-being, with large effect sizes for depression, affect balance, and stress. Gains were sustained at a 4-week follow-up. The results suggest MBCT is a promising approach for alleviating distress in primary care settings, supporting integration of mental health care into primary health care.
Sage Open
January 1, 2017
Michael C. Dillbeck, Kenneth L. Cavanaugh
A group practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program was associated with reductions in infant mortality and drug-related fatalities in the larger population. From 2007 through 2010, infant mortality declined by an average of 3.12% per year and drug-related fatalities by 7.61% per year, beyond preexisting trends. The analysis controlled for seasonality and autocorrelation, and diagnostic tests suggest the results are not due to spurious regression. The authors propose that collective practice of this procedure reduces societal stress, though alternative explanations are considered.
Sage Open
September 28, 2016
Michael C. Dillbeck, Kenneth L. Cavanaugh
A large group practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs is associated with reduced rates of homicide and violent crime in the United States. Monthly homicide rates and violent crime rates from 206 cities were analyzed using interrupted time series analysis. A statistically and practically significant downward shift in both crime measures began when the largest U.S. TM-Sidhi group reached a sufficient size. Statistical assumptions were satisfied, and alternative explanations were considered. The results suggest a macro-level social behavioral change without direct micro-level interaction.
Sage Open
September 28, 2016
Tungshan Chou
Religiosity measured by self-reported religion type may misrepresent the true degree of religiosity in Taiwanese people. In 266 healthy older adults across Taiwan, a qualitatively derived index of religious piety, based on principles suggested by Gries, Su, and Schak, was compared with self-reported religion type for effects on dissociation, paranormal belief, and quality of life. Older people with high religious piety displayed better quality of life profiles than those with low religious piety. Self-reported religion type mainly affected paranormal beliefs compatible with the reported religion, while religious piety more strongly influenced quality of life than dissociation or paranormal belief. The hypothesized beneficial advantage of dissociation from ritual healing theory did not receive empirical support in this nonclinical sample.
Sage Open
October 1, 2015
Patrizio Tressoldi, Luciano Pederzoli, Patrizio Caini et al.
Hypnotic inductions can trigger real out-of-body experiences (OBEs), allowing researchers to interview participants during the event. Six participants described an intermediate entity called a "subtle body"—a white, silvered cloud around the physical body with enlarged hands and feet that moves quickly like flying, though with a vague sense of attrition when passing through walls. This subtle body connects to the physical body by a brilliant white link, sometimes described as a silvered string, while no visible links connect it to the "psychic body" (the self or I-identity). Both bodies can move forward and backward in time without a sense of time. These descriptions align with Vedanta philosophy and Theosophical tradition.