Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators.
Tonya L Jacobs, Elissa S Epel, Jue Lin, Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Owen M Wolkowitz, David A Bridwell, Anthony P Zanesco, Stephen R Aichele, Baljinder K Sahdra, Katherine A Maclean, Brandon G King, Phillip R Shaver, Erika L Rosenberg, Emilio Ferrer, B Alan Wallace, Clifford D Saron
Psychoneuroendocrinology June 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.09.010 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled trial with wait-list control group Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Retreat participants and matched controls |
| Intervention | Concentrative meditation techniques and complementary practices |
| Duration | 3-month intervention |
| Measures | Perceived Control, Neuroticism, Mindfulness, Purpose in Life, telomerase activity |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Telomerase activity Psychological well-being Mind-body connection |
| Citations | 435 |
| Key findings | Meditation retreat participants had significantly greater telomerase activity than controls, mediated by increased Perceived Control and decreased Neuroticism. |
Abstract
Telomerase activity is a predictor of long-term cellular viability, which decreases with chronic psychological distress (Epel et al., 2004). Buddhist traditions claim that meditation decreases psychological distress and promotes well-being (e.g., Dalai Lama and Cutler, 2009). Therefore, we investigated the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomerase activity and two major contributors to the experience of stress: Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress) and Neuroticism (associated with increased subjective distress). We used mediation models to test whether changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism explained meditation retreat effects on telomerase activity. In addition, we investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice, increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life, accounted for retreat-related changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity. Retreat participants (n=30) meditated for ∼6 h daily for 3 months and were compared with a wait-list control group (n=30) matched for age, sex, body mass index, and prior meditation experience. Retreat participants received instruction in concentrative meditation techniques and complementary practices used to cultivate benevolent states of mind (Wallace, 2006). Psychological measures were assessed pre- and post-retreat. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected post-retreat for telomerase activity. Because there were clear, a priori hypotheses, 1-tailed significance criteria were used throughout. Telomerase activity was significantly greater in retreat participants than in controls at the end of the retreat (p<0.05). Increases in Perceived Control, decreases in Neuroticism, and increases in both Mindfulness and Purpose in Life were greater in the retreat group (p<0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of the retreat on telomerase was mediated by increased Perceived Control and decreased Neuroticism. In turn, changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism were both partially mediated by increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life. Additionally, increases in Purpose in Life directly mediated the telomerase group difference, whereas increases in Mindfulness did not. This is the first study to link meditation and positive psychological change with telomerase activity. Although we did not measure baseline telomerase activity, the data suggest that increases in perceived control and decreases in negative affectivity contributed to an increase in telomerase activity, with implications for telomere length and immune cell longevity. Further, Purpose in Life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 90
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Regular, brief mindfulness meditation practice improves electrophysiological markers of attentional control Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Mindfulness and Compassion: An Examination of Mechanism and Scalability PLoS One February 17, 2015
and 85 more in the library
Cites 19
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
and 14 more in the library