Effects of transcendental meditation on mental health and work productivity among university staff in Australia: A randomised controlled trial.
Mahesh Kumar Khanal, Leila Karimi, Peter Saunders, Kathy Nguyen, Kevin Lee, Karen T. Hallam, Barbora de Courten
Journal of Affective Disorders September 23, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122555 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Open-label Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 129 |
| Population | Staff of an Australian university |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Duration | 5-day training plus regular practice, with assessments at baseline, 3, and 6 months |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Distress Emotion regulation Transcendental meditation Work impairment |
| Key findings | Transcendental Meditation significantly reduced perceived stress over six months compared with usual wellbeing resources (adjusted mean difference -2.25, 95% CI -3.33 to -1.17; Hedge g = -0.52), with significant improvements in anxiety, depression, burnout, sleep quality, well-being, and health-related quality of life. Exploratory analysis associated twice-daily practice with greater improvements in several outcomes, and no adverse effects were reported. |
Abstract
Chronic psychological stress is a major public health problem with adverse effects on mental health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and work functioning. Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a standardised meditation that may reduce stress and enhance wellbeing, yet long-term evidence in workplace settings is limited. This study evaluated the effect of TM on perceived stress and related outcomes among Australian university staff. This two-arm, open-label randomised controlled trial enrolled staff of an Australian university into TM (5-day training plus regular practice, n = 65) or control (usual wellbeing resources, n = 64) groups. Symptoms of perceived stress (primary outcome), anxiety and depression symptoms, workplace burnout, poor sleep, well-being, HRQoL, and productivity impairment were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Analyses were conducted using baseline-adjusted linear mixed models under the intention-to-treat principle. TM significantly reduced perceived stress over 6 months compared with control (adjusted mean difference - 2.25 [95% CI: -3.33, -1.17], p < .001) with a moderate effect size (Hedge g = -0.52). Significant improvements were also observed in symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout, sleep quality (mean differences -0.25 to -2.89), well-being, and HRQoL (1.08 to 1.64). Exploratory analysis showed that twice-daily practice was significantly associated with improvements in perceived stress, well-being, HRQoL, symptoms of depression and burnout (p < .05). No adverse effects were reported. TM produced significant improvements in stress, mental health, sleep, and HRQoL over six months and warrants consideration as a safe, effective workplace mental health strategy, but active-comparator trials with longer follow-up are needed.
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 13
- Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Employee Stress, Depression, and Burnout: A Randomized Controlled Study The Permanente Journal January 30, 2014
- Neurophysiological, cognitive-behavioral and neurochemical effects in practitioners of transcendental meditation - A literature review Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira May 1, 2019
- Clinical Nurse Well-being Improved Through Transcendental Meditation: A Multimethod Randomized Controlled Trial. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration 2024
- Mindfulness-Based Programmes for Work Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Stress and Health December 1, 2025
- Meditation and workplace health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of mental and cardiometabolic outcomes among employees Health Psychology Review April 16, 2026
and 8 more in the library