Effectiveness of a structured meditation programme in reducing anxiety symptoms: A randomized controlled trial among adults with generalized anxiety disorder
International Journal of Advanced Psychiatric Nursing February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.33545/26641348.2026.v8.i2a.243 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Adults aged 25–50 diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder |
| Intervention | guided meditation sessions |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 4-week follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Psychological intervention Mental health Clinical psychology Rating scale Physical therapy Intervention counseling Anxiety score Clinical trial |
| Key findings | An 8-week structured meditation programme significantly reduced anxiety symptoms and improved psychological well-being in adults with generalized anxiety disorder compared to usual care. |
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally. Non-pharmacological therapies such as meditation are gaining recognition as effective adjuncts to standard treatment.
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of an 8-week structured meditation programme in reducing anxiety symptoms and enhancing psychological well-being among adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 110 adults aged 25–50 years. Participants were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 55), which received guided meditation sessions for eight weeks, or a control group (n = 55), which received usual care. Anxiety levels were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), while psychological well-being was assessed using the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5) at pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up.
Results: The experimental group demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety scores (HAM-A: M = 25.9 ? 18.0, t = 9.32, p<.001; GAD-7: M = 13.8 ? 9.4, t = 8.17, p<.001). Between-group comparisons also revealed significant differences in post-test mean anxiety scores (p<.001). WHO-5 scores increased by 31.2% in the experimental group compared with 9.8% in the control group.
Conclusion: The structured meditation programme significantly reduced anxiety and improved overall well-being among adults with GAD. The findings support the integration of meditation into clinical and nursing interventions for holistic mental health care.