Mindfulness and psychologic well-being: are they related to type of meditation technique practiced?
Dounya Schoormans, Ivan Nyklíček
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) July 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2010.0332 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPractitioners of mindfulness meditation and transcendental meditation did not differ in self-reported mindfulness skills or psychological well-being, despite differences in their meditation techniques. All facets of mindfulness correlated with well-being measures across both groups. The frequency of meditation practice, measured in days per week, was the only factor that predicted higher mindfulness and lower perceived stress. The study suggests that how often one meditates may matter more for mindfulness and well-being than the specific type of meditation practiced. The groups differed in demographics, which were statistically accounted for.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Practitioners of mindfulness meditation and transcendental meditation from local meditation centers in southern Netherlands |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Transcendental meditation |
| Key finding | Days per week spent on meditation was the only multivariable predictor of higher mindfulness and lower perceived stress, with no differences between meditation types on mindfulness or well-being. |
Abstract
This study examined whether practitioners of two meditation types differ on self-reported mindfulness skills and psychologic well-being. This was a cross-sectional study comparing two convenience meditation groups drawn from local meditation centers, one group practicing mindfulness meditation (MM), and the other practicing transcendental meditation (TM). The study was conducted at several meditation centers in southern Netherlands. Thirty-five (35) participants practiced MM (69% women) and 20 practiced TM (42% women). Participants completed questionnaires on mindfulness skills (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and two subscales from Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills), psychologic well-being (perceived stress, global mood, and quality of life), and meditation duration and frequency. All self-reported mindfulness facets correlated with almost all measures of well-being across groups, but no differences were evident between meditation types regarding mindfulness or well-being. Days per week spent on meditation was the only multivariable predictor of both higher mindfulness and lower perceived stress. The results suggest that self-reported mindfulness and psychologic well-being may be associated with meditation frequency rather than any potential differences when comparing MM and TM in this study. Note that substantial differences between MM and TM groups were present on basic demographics, which were controlled statistically.