App-based daily meditation and menstrual cycle-related effects: a quantitative one-group pilot study
Lisa Annalena Siering, Martha Koelman, Tobias Esch, Maren Marie Michaelsen
preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-10715835/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational longitudinal study Pilot study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 41 |
| Population | Meditation novices, predominantly female (97.7%), mean age 29.85 years |
| Duration | 8 weeks, capturing two consecutive menstrual cycles |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Menstrual cycle phase and daily health ratings were not significantly associated with meditation duration, while motivation was. Post-intervention self-compassion, mindfulness, and self-efficacy were higher than baseline, and longer meditation correlated with less negative premenstrual symptoms and higher self-compassion. |
Abstract
Abstract Objectives The menstrual cycle has multifaceted influence. Potential effects on the adoption of healthy behaviors are unclear. Therefore, we examined how cycle phases are related to daily meditation duration in novices. We assessed associations between daily app-based meditation, menstruation cycle and health-related outcomes in meditation novices.
Methods: This eight-week study captured two consecutive menstrual cycles. Participants meditated using the 7mind app and reported basal temperature, onset of menstruation, health, motivation, and effort daily. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and linear mixed models (LMM) analyzed cycle and health effects on meditation duration. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests assessed pre-post-effects. Correlation analyses examined associations between meditation duration and outcomes.
Result: 41 participants (mean age 29.85 years; 97,7% identified as female) meditated a mean of 10.02 minutes daily. GLMMs showed no significant influence of cycle phases or health ratings on meditation duration, whereas motivation did (b = 0.02, 95% CI [-.004, .040], p = .018). Post-intervention self-compassion (p = .005, r = .40), mindfulness (p = .023, r = .31) and self-efficacy (p = .001, r = .57) were higher than baseline. Longer meditation correlated with less negative premenstrual symptoms (τ β = −.25, p = .014) and higher self-compassion (τ β = .19, p = .042). LMMs showed no significant association between cycle phases and effort.
Conclusions: Adoption of a new positive behavior might not be affected by cycle phases as expected. App-based meditation appears to enhance self-compassion, mindfulness and self-efficacy. Relatively longer meditation duration could reduce premenstrual symptoms. Future research on cycle-effects should consider PMS/PMDD.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| 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 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 23
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- Women Benefit More Than Men in Response to College-based Meditation Training. Frontiers in Psychology 2017
- From Self-Esteem to Selflessness: An Evidence (Gap) Map of Self-Related Processes as Mechanisms of Mindfulness-Based Interventions Frontiers in Psychology November 22, 2021
- Mindfulness-Based and Mindfulness-Informed Interventions at the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness May 11, 2023
- Meditation and Its Mental and Physical Health Benefits in 2023. Cureus June 1, 2023
and 18 more in the library