Transcendental Meditation and Psychological Health
Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1, 1974 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1974.39.1.623 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractExperienced transcendental meditators report lower anxiety, a greater sense of internal control, and higher self-actualization on 7 of 12 subscales compared with novice meditators. The findings suggest that long-term meditation practice is associated with improved psychological health and may have therapeutic value.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 36 |
| Population | Experienced and novice transcendental meditators |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Citations | 81 |
| Key finding | Experienced meditators were significantly less anxious, more internally controlled, and more self-actualized than novice meditators. |
Abstract
15 experienced transcendental meditators and 21 novice meditators were administered Bendig's anxiety scale, Rotter's Locus of Control scale, and Shostrom's Personal Orientation Inventory of self-actualization. As predicted, experienced meditators were significantly less anxious and more internally controlled than beginning meditators. Likewise, experienced meditators were significantly higher, i.e., more self-actualized, on 7 of Shostrom's 12 subscales. These impressive results are discussed in terms of the psychological health implications of Transcendental Meditation and its potential therapeutic applications.