Improving Quality of Life Through Meditation: A Review
Kiran Sanwal, Om Ji, Prof. P.K. Goswami
African Journal of Biomedical Research 2024 DOI: 10.53555/ajbr.v27i4s.6062 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Transcendental Meditation Loving-Kindness Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The review concludes that meditation practices are associated with reduced anxiety, depression, and stress and with improved attention, cognitive flexibility, emotional stability, empathy, and interpersonal well-being. The authors attribute these multi-layered benefits to effects on the autonomic nervous system and hormonal balance, supported by neuroimaging evidence of structural and functional brain changes in attention- and emotion-regulation regions. |
Abstract
Meditation has emerged as a widely recognized practice for enhancing overall well-being, significantly impacting the quality of life (QoL). This review investigates into the multi-layered benefits of meditation, exploring its impact on physical, mental, and emotional health. Meditation promotes stress reduction, increases emotional resilience, and promotes better health outcomes through its effects on the autonomic nervous system and hormonal balance. Mental health, mindfulness, and other meditation practices have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress while increasing attention, cognitive flexibility, and emotional stability. Meditation promotes empathy, compassion, and positive interpersonal relationships, and social and emotional well-being. This review also examines various meditation techniques, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, Transcendental Meditation, and Loving-Kindness Meditation, analysing their effectiveness in diverse populations. Neuroimaging studies underscore the structural and functional changes in the brain that mediate these benefits, particularly in areas associated with attention and emotional regulation.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |