Contemplative Education: A Systematic, Evidence-Based Review of the effect of Meditation Interventions in Schools
Educational Psychology Review March 1, 2015 L. Waters, Adam Barsky, Amanda Ridd et al. 251 citations
A review of 15 peer-reviewed studies on school meditation programs examined their effects on student well-being, social competence, and academic achievement. Across 76 calculated effect sizes from 1,797 participants, 61% were statistically significant. Most results (67%) showed small effects, 24% medium, and 9% large. Transcendental meditation programs yielded a higher proportion of significant effects than mindfulness-based or other types, though this may reflect differences in settings and delivery rather than the technique itself. Program duration, practice frequency, and instructor type influenced outcomes. The authors propose that meditation boosts student success by enhancing cognitive functioning and emotional regulation.