Effects of Breathing-Based Meditation on Earthquake-Affected Health Professionals
Miho Iwakuma, Daien Oshita, Akihiro Yamamoto, Yuka Urushibara-Miyachi
Holistic Nursing Practice May 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1097/hnp.0000000000000211 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed methods study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 17 |
| Population | Health professionals who survived the Great East Japan Earthquake |
| Intervention | Breathing-based meditation |
| Duration | 45-minute meditation session |
| Measures | mood scales (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, strain, vigor) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | A 45-minute breathing-based meditation session significantly improved all measured mood states (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, strain, and vigor) in health professionals affected by the earthquake. |
Abstract
On March 11, 2013, the Great East Japan Earthquake (magnitude 9) hit the northern part of Japan (Tohoku), killing more than 15 000 people and leaving long-lasting scars, including psychological damage among evacuees, some of whom were health professionals. Little is known about meditation efficacy on disaster-affected health professionals. The present study investigated the effects of breathing-based meditation on seminar participants who were health professionals who had survived the earthquake. This study employed a mixed methods approach, using both survey data and handwritten qualitative data. Quantitative results of pre- and postmeditation practice indicated that all mood scales (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, strain, and vigor) were significantly improved (N = 17). Qualitative results revealed several common themes (emancipation from chronic and bodily senses; holistic sense: transcending mind-body; re-turning an axis in life through reflection, self-control, and/or gratitude; meditation into mundane, everyday life; and coming out of pain in the aftermath of the earthquake) that had emerged as expressions of participant meditation experiences. Following the 45-minute meditation session, the present study participants reported improvements in all psychological states (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, strain, and vigor) in the quantitative portion, which indicated efficacy of the meditation. Our analysis of the qualitative portion revealed what and how participants felt during meditating.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The Effect of Mindfulness Breathing Meditation on Psychological Well-being Holistic Nursing Practice June 23, 2021
- Do scientists still believe in mindfulness meditation for pain therapy? a bibliometric analysis regarding meditation trends for therapy from 1946 To 2022 Bali Medical Journal May 10, 2023
Cites 5
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- The Impact of an Innovative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on the Health and Well-Being of Nurses Employed in a Corporate Setting Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health April 1, 2013
- Blood Pressure Response to Transcendental Meditation: A Meta-analysis American Journal of Hypertension February 29, 2008
- Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction versus aerobic exercise: effects on the self-referential brain network in social anxiety disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Overview of outcome data of potential meditation training for soldier resilience. Military Medicine November 2011