A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Psychological Benefits of a Daily Examen-Based Practice.

A two-week daily Examen-based practice, derived from a prayer developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, improved university students' life meaning, satisfaction with life, and hope compared to a wait-list control group. The randomized controlled trial assigned 57 students to the practice and 58 to the control. Measures taken before, after, and at a two-week follow-up showed significant differences between groups on these three outcomes, suggesting the practice enhances global evaluations of life and future perceptions. No significant effects were found for mindfulness, compassion, stress, anxiety, or depression.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This is a randomized controlled trial of an Examen-based practice, an intervention reflecting a five-step daily reflection and prayer practice developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Catholic Jesuit order. Like other practices (e.g., mindfulness, yoga), this practice can be used as a spiritual or secular intervention to help people with a variety of challenges and stressors. In this exploratory study, 57 university students were randomly assigned to a two-week daily Examen-based condition, while 58 students were assigned to a wait-list control condition. Questionnaires measuring hope, life meaning, satisfaction with life, mindfulness, compassion, stress, anxiety, and depression were administered pre- and post-intervention and subsequently at two-week follow-up. Significant differences were found for conditions on the measures of life meaning, satisfaction with life, and hope, suggesting that the Examen-based practice produces improvements in individuals' global evaluations of their lives as well as their perceptions of the future. Suggestions for further research are offered.