Natural stress relief meditation as a tool for reducing anxiety and increasing self-actualization
Fabrizio Coppola, David Spector
Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal April 1, 2009 DOI: 10.2224/sbp.2009.37.3.307 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Practitioners of Natural Stress Relief (NSR) Meditation |
| Intervention | Natural Stress Relief (NSR) Meditation |
| Dose | 15 minutes twice a day |
| Duration | 4 weeks |
| Measures | State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Short Index of Self-Actualization (SISA) |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | After four weeks of regular NSR practice, trait anxiety significantly decreased (d = .69) and self-actualization significantly increased (d = .47), as measured by the STAI and SISA, respectively. |
Abstract
Natural Stress Relief (NSR) Meditation, a mental technique practiced for 15 minutes twice a day, reduces stress and anxiety by inducing a physiological state of deep rest. Regular practice of this technique appears to reduce trait anxiety and to develop qualities associated with self-actualization, such as inner peace, satisfaction, and creativity. This article reports new research that documents this effect using psychometric measures. A group of 31 practitioners showed, after four weeks of regular practice, a significant reduction of trait anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs, 1983) (effect size d = .69, calculated following Cohen), and a significant increase of self-actualization as measured by the Jones and Crandall (1986) Short Index of Self-Actualization (SISA; effect size d = .47).
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Meditation for Anxiety: A Holistic Approach to Treatment. Journal of Holistic Nursing December 1, 2024
- Comparison of meditation techniques for anxiety reduction in adults: An empirical study in Mexico Avances en Interacción Humano-Computadora November 30, 2021
- Development and validation of a plateau experience psychometric to investigate the effect of shinrin-yoku on depression Transpersonal Psychology Review 2020