Self-reported mindfulness and cortisol during a Shamatha meditation retreat.
Tonya L Jacobs, Phillip R Shaver, Elissa S Epel, Anthony P Zanesco, Stephen R Aichele, David A Bridwell, Erika L Rosenberg, Brandon G King, Katherine A Maclean, Baljinder K Sahdra, Margaret E Kemeny, Emilio Ferrer, B Alan Wallace, Clifford D Saron
Health Psychology October 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1037/a0031362 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 57 |
| Population | Adults on a 3-month meditation retreat |
| Intervention | meditation retreat |
| Duration | 3-month meditation retreat |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness meditation Stress reduction Cortisol levels Well-being |
| Citations | 62 |
| Key findings | Larger increases in self-reported mindfulness were associated with decreases in evening cortisol, while smaller increases or slight decreases in mindfulness were linked to increases in cortisol. |
Abstract
Cognitive perseverations that include worry and rumination over past or future events may prolong cortisol release, which in turn may contribute to predisease pathways and adversely affect physical health. Meditation training may increase self-reported mindfulness, which has been linked to reductions in cognitive perseverations. However, there are no reports that directly link self-reported mindfulness and resting cortisol output. Here, the authors investigate this link. In an observational study, we measured self-reported mindfulness and p.m. cortisol near the beginning and end of a 3-month meditation retreat (N = 57). Mindfulness increased from pre- to post-retreat, F(1, 56) = 36.20, p < .001. Cortisol did not significantly change. However, mindfulness was inversely related to p.m. cortisol at pre-retreat, r(53) = -.31, p < .05, and post-retreat, r(53) = -.30, p < .05, controlling for age and body mass index. Pre to postchange in mindfulness was associated with pre to postchange in p.m. cortisol, β = -.37, t(49) = 2.30, p < .05: Larger increases in mindfulness were associated with decreases in p.m. cortisol, whereas smaller increases (or slight decreases) in mindfulness were associated with an increase in p.m. cortisol. These data suggest a relation between self-reported mindfulness and resting output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. Future work should aim to replicate this finding in a larger cohort and determine stronger inference about causality by using experimental designs that include control-group conditions.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 16
- Biological Pathways Linking Mindfulness with Health INDIGO June 30, 2018
- Effect of a one-week spiritual retreat on dopamine and serotonin transporter binding: a preliminary study Religion, Brain & Behavior March 22, 2017
- Enhanced dehydroepiandrosterone levels are positively correlated with N3 sleep stage in long-term mindfulness meditation practitioners. Sleep Science 2022
- A neuroscience perspective on the plasticity of the social and relational brain. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences May 1, 2025
- Free will – an approach from the perspective of neuroscience Romanian Journal of Medical Practice September 30, 2021
and 11 more in the library
Cites 9
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Intensive meditation training improves perceptual discrimination and sustained attention. Psychological Science June 1, 2010
- Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Psychoneuroendocrinology June 1, 2011
- Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- Enhanced response inhibition during intensive meditation training predicts improvements in self-reported adaptive socioemotional functioning. Emotion April 1, 2011
and 4 more in the library