Transcendental Meditation for women affected by domestic violence: Study protocol of a pilot randomised, controlled trial.
Matthew J Leach, Heather Lorenzon, Sandy Nidich
Integrative Medicine Research December 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2020.100432 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Women living in Adelaide, South Australia, who have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime |
| Interventions | Transcendental Meditation facilitated group support sessions |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 16-week follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Domestic violence Quality of life |
| Key findings | This is a study protocol; no results are reported. |
Abstract
Almost one in three women worldwide will be exposed to domestic and family violence some time in their life. This violence can contribute to physical, social, economic and psychological harm. Transcendental Meditation® (TM) may help to lessen the physical and emotional burden of domestic violence. The objective of this pilot, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of TM to support group control, on quality-of-life, perceived stress and mood in women affected by domestic violence. Women living in Adelaide, South Australia, who have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime, will be randomized to eight weeks of standardised TM training or facilitated group support sessions. Health-related quality of life (AQoL-8D), severity of depression, anxiety and perceived stress (DASS-21), and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5) will be self-reported by women at baseline, week 8 (post-intervention) and week 16 (follow-up). Data will be analysed by intention-to-treat using linear mixed-effects models. TM is an effortless, easily practiced and convenient relaxation technique, with reportedly high rates of adherence. While previous studies have shown TM to be effective in improving a range of psychological and behavioural outcomes across different populations, the effects of TM in survivors of domestic violence is largely unknown. If the study described herein is able to demonstrate the benefits of TM in this population, it might offer survivors an accessible, long-term and potentially cost-effective treatment option for domestic violence-induced distress, anxiety and depression.Trial registration: ACTRN12620000467932.
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 3
- Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) December 12, 2024
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Transcendental Meditation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) April 3, 2025
- Transcendental Meditation for Women Affected by Domestic Violence: A Pilot Randomised, Controlled Trial Journal of Family Violence April 19, 2023
Cites 8
- 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
- Non-trauma-focused meditation versus exposure therapy in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Psychiatry December 1, 2018
- The effect of transcendental meditation on self-efficacy, perceived stress, and quality of life in mothers in Uganda. Health care for women international July 1, 2018
- Transcendental Meditation and Reduced Trauma Symptoms in Female Inmates: A Randomized Controlled Study. The Permanente Journal 2017
and 3 more in the library