Differential Experimental Effects of a Short Bout of Walking, Meditation, or Combination of Walking and Meditation on State Anxiety Among Young Adults.
Meghan K Edwards, Simon Rosenbaum, Paul D Loprinzi
American journal of health promotion : AJHP May 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1177/0890117117744913 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single 10-minute session of meditation, either alone or combined with a 10-minute walk, reduces state anxiety in young adults, while a 10-minute walk alone does not. In a randomized trial with 110 participants (average age 21.4 years), those who meditated, meditated then walked, or walked then meditation showed significant decreases in anxiety scores on the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Walking alone and sitting (inactive control) produced no significant change. The findings suggest meditation may be a preferred method for attenuating anxiety, and that adding a brief meditation before or after exercise may provide additional anxiolytic benefits.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Young adults |
| Interventions | walk meditate walk then meditate meditate then walk |
| Duration | 10-minute intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Combination Exercise psychology Physical activity |
| Key finding | Meditation, but not brisk walking alone, significantly reduced state anxiety, and combining meditation with walking also reduced anxiety. |
Abstract
Single bouts of aerobic exercise and meditation have been shown to improve anxiety states. Yet to be evaluated in the literature, we sought to examine the effects of a single, short bout of aerobic exercise or meditation, as well as exercise and meditation combined on state anxiety among young adults. Randomized controlled trial. University. Participants (N = 110, mean age = 21.4 years) were randomly assigned to walk, meditate, walk then meditate, meditate then walk, or to sit (inactive control). All walking and meditation bouts were 10 minutes in duration. Participants' state anxiety was monitored before and after the intervention using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. Significant group × time interaction effects were observed ( P = .01). Post hoc paired t tests revealed that state anxiety significantly decreased from baseline to postintervention in the meditation ( P = .002), meditation then walk ( P = .002), and walk then meditation ( P = .03) groups but not the walk ( P = .75) or control ( P = .45) groups. Meditation (vs a brisk walk) may be a preferred method of attenuating anxiety symptomology. Individuals desiring the health benefits associated with aerobic exercise may achieve additional anxiolytic benefits if they employ a brief meditation session before or after exercising.