Improving happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy while reducing stress for rural Lebanese women using the Transcendental Meditation practice: A randomized controlled trial.
Marie Loiselle, Frederick Travis
Women's Health 2026 DOI: 10.1177/17455057261479602 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 114 |
| Population | Rural Lebanese women |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Duration | 3-month intervention and follow-up |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), Arabic Scale of Happiness, New General Self-Efficacy Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Transcendental meditation Happiness Middle east Randomized controlled trial Reduce stress Resilience Self-efficacy Women |
| Key findings | After three months, the Transcendental Meditation group showed significant reductions in perceived stress and significant increases in happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy compared with controls. Self-efficacy and perceived stress significantly predicted happiness levels. |
Abstract
BackgroundWomen in rural Lebanon face ongoing war, corruption, pollution, and inequality. Such chronic instability makes their lives challenging.ObjectivesThis study evaluated the effects of a well-researched meditation practice on countering the stressors these women experience.DesignThis was a randomized controlled trial of 114 rural Lebanese women divided into three cohorts, each measured over a period of three months. Subjects in each cohort were randomized into either the experimental group, who were taught the Transcendental Meditation practice, or an active wait-list control group. The study ran from May to November, 2023.MethodsAll participants were measured at baseline, 1-month, and 3-months using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Arabic Scale of Happiness, and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Procedures and study design were approved by the Maharishi International University Research Institute Review Board on December 9, 2022. The ethics approval number is IRB-MIU-MVS-2022-1008.ResultsAfter three months of TM practice, the experimental group had significant reductions in perceived stress and significant increases in happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy (P<.001) compared with controls. Compliance was high, with almost 80% reporting daily TM practice. A stepwise multiple discriminant analysis revealed that self-efficacy and perceived stress significantly predicted levels of happiness.ConclusionFindings indicate that TM practice is an effective tool for rural Lebanese women in relieving stress and promoting happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy. It may strengthen the inner person to better cope with existing environmental pressures. Longer studies with a wider Lebanese/Middle East population are needed to confirm these findings.
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
Cites 17
- Stress Reduction and Preventing Hypertension: Preliminary Support for a Psychoneuroendocrine Mechanism The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine June 1, 1995
- Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Employee Stress, Depression, and Burnout: A Randomized Controlled Study The Permanente Journal January 30, 2014
- The effect of Transcendental Meditation on self-esteem, self-efficacy, and gratitude, for increasing empowerment of female youth in Uganda. Health care for women international 2024
- A pilot intervention to reduce burnout and enhance resilience through transcendental meditation among Georgetown University medical students. BMC Medical Education April 3, 2025
- Improving the mental health and well-being of healthcare providers using the transcendental meditation technique during the COVID-19 pandemic: A parallel population study. PLoS One 2023
and 12 more in the library