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Influences of Family Environment and Meditation Efficacy on Hemodynamic Function among African American Adolescents.

Vernon A Barnes, Mathew J Gregoski, Martha S Tingen, Frank A Treiber

Journal of complementary & integrative medicine July 1, 2010 DOI: 10.2202/1553-3840.1326 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 186
Population African American adolescents, mean age 15.1 years
Interventions Breathing awareness meditation lifeskills training health education
Duration Three-month interventions; pre- and post-intervention evaluations
Measures resting systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, Family Relations Index (FRI), expectancy of benefit evaluations
Topics Meditation
Key findings Higher expectancy of benefit from any of the three interventions was associated with greater reductions in systolic blood pressure. Among participants in the breathing awareness meditation group, those from positive family environments showed greater decreases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate; meditation and lifeskills participants from positive family environments also showed greater diastolic blood pressure decreases. The authors suggest that positive family environments combined with meditation or lifeskills training may benefit hemodynamic function in African American adolescents.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of breathing awareness meditation (BAM) compared to health education (HE) and lifeskills training (LS) upon resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) within the context of potential moderating factors of family environment and expectancy of benefit. 186 African American adolescents (mean age: 15.1±0.7 yrs) were randomly assigned by school to three-month BAM, LS, or HE interventions. Laboratory resting blood pressure (BP), Family Relations Index (FRI) and expectancy of benefit evaluations were conducted at pre- and post-intervention. Higher expectancy of benefit from any of the three interventions resulted in greater reductions in SBP. A two-way interaction indicated that BAM group subjects who came from positive family environments exhibited greater decreases in SBP. A two-way interaction indicated that BAM and LS subjects who came from positive family environments exhibited greater DBP decreases. A two-way interaction indicated that BAM subjects who came from positive family environments exhibited a greater HR decrease (all p<.05). Expectancy of intervention benefits beneficially impacted success of behavioral interventions aimed at reducing SBP. Positive family environments in combination with either BAM or LS appear to have a beneficial impact upon hemodynamic function in AA adolescents.

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

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