Systolic blood pressure and long-term practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program: effects of TM on systolic blood pressure.
R K Wallace, J Silver, Paul J Mills, M C Dillbeck, D E Wagoner
Psychosomatic Medicine March 1983 DOI: 10.1097/00006842-198303000-00006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 112 |
| Population | People aged 35 to 64 practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs |
| Interventions | Transcendental Meditation (TM) TM-Sidhi program |
| Measures | Systolic blood pressure |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Systolic blood pressure differed significantly between TM/TM-Sidhi practitioners and general-population norms, independent of diet and exercise but related to length of meditation practice; short-term (under 5 years) and long-term (over 5 years) participants also differed significantly, covarying for age. The authors suggest long-term practice may benefit systolic blood pressure while noting cross-sectional limitations and possible self-selection. |
Abstract
Systolic blood pressure was measured in 112 subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs. The subjects were between the ages of 35 and 64 years. A significant difference was found between the systolic blood pressures of subjects (matched for sex, race, and general educational background) practicing the TM and TM-Sidhi programs and norms for the general population. This difference was independent of diet and exercise patterns but related to length of time meditating. A significant difference was also found between short-term (under 5 years) and long-term (over 5 years) participants of the TM program, covarying for age. No previous reports exist concerning the long-term effects of the TM program on blood pressure. Despite methodological problems associated with cross sectional data, the findings suggest the beneficial effects of the long-term practice of the TM and TM-Sidhi programs on systolic blood pressure. Even if self-selection plays a role, the characteristics of an easily identifiable group already showing traits beneficial to the general population deserves further study.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 26
- Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989
- Stress Reduction and Preventing Hypertension: Preliminary Support for a Psychoneuroendocrine Mechanism The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine June 1, 1995
- International Peace Project in the Middle East Journal of Conflict Resolution December 1, 1988
- Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents and Adults through the Transcendental Meditation® Program: A Research Review Update Current Hypertension Reviews October 1, 2012
- Spiritually Based Interventions for High Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Religion and Health October 1, 2024
and 21 more in the library