Efficacy of Transcendental Meditation to Reduce Stress Among Health Care Workers: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Sangeeta P Joshi, An-Kwok Ian Wong, Amanda Brucker, Taylor A Ardito, Shein-Chung Chow, Sandeep Vaishnavi, Patty J Lee
JAMA Network Open September 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31917 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Open-label Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 80 |
| Population | Health care workers at an academic medical center with elevated distress and physiological stress responses |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Dose | 20 minutes twice daily |
| Duration | 3-month intervention |
| Measures | Global Severity Index, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Insomnia Severity Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Registration | NCT04632368 |
| Key findings | Transcendental Meditation did not significantly reduce acute psychological distress but significantly improved burnout, insomnia, and anxiety compared with usual treatment. |
Abstract
Health care workers (HCWs) have been experiencing substantial stress and burnout, and evidence-based mitigation strategies are needed. Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a mantra meditation practice with potential efficacy in reducing stress. To assess the efficacy of TM practice in reducing stress among HCWs over a 3-month period. This single-center open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted among HCWs at an academic medical center from November 19, 2020, to August 31, 2021. Inclusion criteria comprised a score of 6 points or greater on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale and an increase of 5% or greater in baseline heart rate or an increase of 33% or greater in galvanic skin response after exposure to a stressful script. Exclusion criteria included the use of antipsychotic or β blocker medications, current suicidal ideation, or previous TM training. Of 213 HCWs who participated in prescreening, 95 attended in-person visits, resulting in 80 eligible participants who were randomized to receive a TM intervention (TM group) or usual treatment (control group). The TM group practiced TM for 20 minutes twice daily over a 3-month period. The control group received usual treatment, which consisted of access to wellness resources. The primary outcome was change in acute psychological distress measured by the Global Severity Index. Secondary outcomes included changes in burnout (measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory), insomnia (measured by the Insomnia Severity Index), and anxiety (measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale). Among 80 participants, 66 (82.5%) were women, with a mean (SD) age of 40 (11) years. One participant (1.3%) was American Indian or Alaska Native, 5 (6.3%) were Asian, 12 (15.0%) were Black, 59 (73.8%) were White, and 3 (3.8%) were of unknown or unreported race; 4 participants (5.0%) were Hispanic, and 76 (95.0%) were non-Hispanic. A total of 41 participants were randomized to the TM group, and 39 were randomized to the control group. Participants in the TM group did not show a statistically significant decrease in psychological distress on the Global Severity Index compared with those in the control group (-5.6 points vs -3.8 points; between-group difference, -1.8 points; 95% CI, -4.2 to 0.6 points; P = .13). Compared with the control group, the TM group had significantly greater reductions in the secondary end points of emotional exhaustion (Maslach Burnout Inventory subscore: -8.0 points vs -2.6 points; between-group difference, -5.4 points; 95% CI, -9.2 to -1.6 points; P = .006), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Scale score: -4.1 points vs -1.9 points; between-group difference, -2.2 points; 95% CI, -4.4 to 0 points; P = .05), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score: -3.1 points vs -0.9 points; between-group difference, -2.2 points; 95% CI, -3.8 to -0.5; P = .01) at 3 months. A total of 38 participants (92.7%) in the TM group adhered to home practice. In this randomized clinical trial, TM practice among HCWs over a 3-month period did not result in a statistically significant reduction in the primary outcome of acute psychological distress compared with usual treatment but significantly improved the secondary outcomes of burnout, anxiety, and insomnia. These findings suggest that TM may be a safe and effective strategy to alleviate chronic stress among HCWs. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04632368.
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
Cited by 13
- Clinical Nurse Well-being Improved Through Transcendental Meditation: A Multimethod Randomized Controlled Trial. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration 2024
- Addressing Clinician Burnout: A Unifying Systems Medicine Model with Meditation as a Heart-mind Intervention. Heart and Mind September 18, 2023
- A Larger Lens: Medical Students Benefit from Consciousness-Based Self-Care Palgrave studies in workplace spirituality and fulfillment 2023
- A pilot intervention to reduce burnout and enhance resilience through transcendental meditation among Georgetown University medical students. BMC Medical Education April 3, 2025
- Feasibility and Acceptability of Transcendental Meditation for Indian Healthcare Professionals in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial Cureus March 15, 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 14
- Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on Trait Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 9, 2013
- Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Employee Stress, Depression, and Burnout: A Randomized Controlled Study The Permanente Journal January 30, 2014
- Autonomic Stability and Transcendental Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 1973
- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation as Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress February 1, 2022
- Heal the Healers: A pilot study evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and exploratory efficacy of a Transcendental Meditation intervention for emergency clinicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open December 1, 2021
and 9 more in the library