The Interrelated Physiological and Psychological Effects of EcoMeditation.
Gary Groesbeck, Donna Bach, Peta Stapleton, Katharina Blickheuser, Dawson Church, Rebecca Sims
Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 2018 DOI: 10.1177/2515690x18759626 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 34 |
| Population | Adults attending a weekend meditation workshop |
| Intervention | EcoMeditation |
| Duration | Weekend workshop, with 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Hydrocortisone Immunoglobulin a, secretory Follow-up studies Anxiety disorders Stress disorders, post-traumatic Heart rate Adult Middle aged Female Group therapy Ecomeditation |
| Key points | After a weekend EcoMeditation workshop, participants showed significant reductions in cortisol (29%), resting heart rate (5%), and pain (43%), and a significant 11% increase in happiness. Anxiety and depression declined significantly (26% and 32%), while the 18% reduction in PTSD symptoms was not statistically significant, and salivary immunoglobulin A, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and heart coherence showed no significant changes. The authors report that three-month follow-up results were nonsignificant due to inadequate sample size (n = 17) and conclude EcoMeditation shows promise as a stress-reduction method. |
Abstract
This study investigated changes in psychological and physiological markers during a weekend meditation workshop (N = 34). Psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and happiness were assessed. Physiological markers included cortisol, salivary immunoglobulin A (SigA), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and resting heart rate (RHR). On posttest, significant reductions were found in cortisol (-29%, P < .0001), RHR (-5%, P = .0281), and pain (-43%, P = .0022). Happiness increased significantly (+11%, P = .0159) while the increase in SigA was nonsignificant (+27%, P = .6964). Anxiety, depression, and PTSD all declined (-26%, P = .0159; -32%, P = .0197; -18%, P = .1533), though changes in PTSD did not reach statistical significance. No changes were found in BP, HRV, and heart coherence. Participants were assessed for psychological symptoms at 3-month follow-up, but the results were nonsignificant due to inadequate sample size (n = 17). EcoMeditation shows promise as a stress-reduction method.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- The biological dimensions of transcendent states: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology September 8, 2022
- The integration of meditation into higher education: a systematic literature review. Journal of American College Health January 15, 2025
- The Effect of Anapanasati Meditation on Depression: A Randomized Control Trial Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine August 31, 2018
- Effect of virtual group EcoMeditation on psychological conditions and flow states. Frontiers in Psychology 2022
- Brief EcoMeditation Associated With Psychological Improvements: A Preliminary Study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine December 23, 2020
and 1 more in the library
Cites 11
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
and 6 more in the library