A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Psychological Benefits of a Daily Examen-Based Practice.
Thomas G. Plante, David B. Feldman, Jacqueline Ge, Anthony Cortese
Journal of Religion and Health April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-025-02259-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 115 |
| Population | University students |
| Intervention | Examen-based practice |
| Duration | Two-week daily intervention, two-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Catholic Gratitude Jesuit Prayer Spiritual practices |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | The Examen-based practice produced significant improvements in life meaning, satisfaction with life, and hope compared to a wait-list control. |
Abstract
This is a randomized controlled trial of an Examen-based practice, an intervention reflecting a five-step daily reflection and prayer practice developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Catholic Jesuit order. Like other practices (e.g., mindfulness, yoga), this practice can be used as a spiritual or secular intervention to help people with a variety of challenges and stressors. In this exploratory study, 57 university students were randomly assigned to a two-week daily Examen-based condition, while 58 students were assigned to a wait-list control condition. Questionnaires measuring hope, life meaning, satisfaction with life, mindfulness, compassion, stress, anxiety, and depression were administered pre- and post-intervention and subsequently at two-week follow-up. Significant differences were found for conditions on the measures of life meaning, satisfaction with life, and hope, suggesting that the Examen-based practice produces improvements in individuals' global evaluations of their lives as well as their perceptions of the future. Suggestions for further research are offered.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- The Selah Pilot Study of Spiritual, Mindfulness, and Stress Inoculation Practices on Stress-Related Outcomes Among United Methodist Clergy in the United States. Journal of Religion and Health August 2023
- An exploratory analysis of the Ignatian examen: Impact on self-transcendent positive emotions and eudaimonic motivation The Journal of Positive Psychology August 7, 2022
- Mindfulness: a systematic review of instruments to measure an emergent patient-reported outcome (PRO). Quality of Life Research March 29, 2013