Beyond fight or flight: The protective role of pre-pandemic meditation practice against anxiety and perceived stress.
Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress October 1, 2024 Bárbara Monteiro, Ana Galhardo, Hugo Senra et al. 1 citation
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, adults who did not meditate showed a greater increase in anxiety symptoms and perceived stress over time, while those who meditated maintained stable levels. The study followed 238 Portuguese adults (165 meditators, 73 non-meditators) across four time points from April 2020 to January 2021. Longer meditation sessions offered greater protection against rising anxiety. The effect of meditation on anxiety was influenced by sex, days of lockdown, self-compassion, and acceptance; its effect on perceived stress was influenced by sex, years of education, days of lockdown, and awareness.