Vipassana meditation:: A naturalistic, preliminary observation in Muscat.
A. Al-Hussaini, Sajjeev X Antony, Samia Al-Rahbi, S. Al-Adawi, A. Dorvlo, Dhananjay V Chavan, Jitu Dave, Vimal Purecha
Journal for scientific research. Medical sciences October 1, 2001 DOI: 10.18295/2075-0528.2586 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post observational study with control group Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants of a Vipassana meditation course in Muscat and a control group |
| Intervention | Vipassana meditation |
| Duration | 10-day residential retreat |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Vipassana participants reported significantly improved physical and psychological well-being immediately after the 10-day retreat, while the control group showed no such changes, suggesting potential benefits for mitigating distress. |
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the effects of Vipassana meditation on the physical and psychological health in a multi-ethnic population in the city of Muscat.
Method: The subjects were participants of a Vipassana meditation course taught in a ten-day residential retreat. Self-assessments of health-related parameters and physical and psychological symptomatology were collected from them before and immediately after the course. A control group was tested for a similar time interval.
Results: Immediately after their 10-day training, the Vipassana participants assessed themselves significantly higher compared to their levels prior to the course, suggesting that the 10 days' practice had significantly improved their physical and psychological well-being. The control group did not exhibit such changes.
Conclusion: The present preliminary findings, juxtaposed with the results of studies from other parts of the world, suggest that the practice of Vipassana meditation may help mitigate psychological and psychosomatic distress.
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 9
- Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience The Journal of Positive Psychology May 1, 2009
- Intensive Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Frequency and Burden of Migraine: An Unblinded Single-Arm Trial. Mindfulness February 1, 2023
- Effects of Vipassanā Meditation on Lay Practitioners’ Life Lumbini Prabha May 16, 2025
- VIPASSANA- NAVIGATING TOWARDS MENTAL PEACE Divyayatan - A Journal of Lakulish Yoga University September 3, 2024
- Vipassana Meditation on Psychosocial Problems among Adults with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome Scholars International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine February 26, 2022
and 4 more in the library
Cites 5
- A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression British Journal of Medical Psychology June 1, 2001
- Zen meditation and ABC relaxation theory: An exploration of relaxation states, beliefs, dispositions, and motivations Journal of Clinical Psychology May 3, 2001
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health-related quality of life in a heterogeneous patient population. General Hospital Psychiatry July 1, 2001
- Evaluation of a Wellness-Based Mindfulness Stress Reduction intervention: a controlled trial. American Journal of Health Promotion 2001
- Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosomatic Medicine 1998