Incidence and predictors of meditation-related unusual experiences and adverse effects in a representative sample of meditators in the United States.
Nicholas T. van Dam, Jessica Targett, Jonathan N. Davies, Alex Burger, Julieta Galante
May 13, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/g7jr6 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMeditation use is now as common as mental health service access. In a cross-sectional, population-based survey of 886 US adults, 96.6% reported an unusual experience related to meditation, 58.4% reported an adverse effect (AE), 78.3% endorsed at least one item on the Meditation-related AEs Scale, 31.4% reported a challenging, difficult, or distressing experience, and 9.1% reported functional impairment due to AEs. Psychological distress, psychoticism, unusual beliefs, and meditation retreat participation were positively associated with unusual experiences and AEs. The findings suggest that potential meditators should be informed about possible experiences, providers should consider risk factors, and AEs should be routinely and actively monitored.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional, population-based survey |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 886 |
| Population | US adults approximately representing population age, gender, and race/ethnicity, stratified by lifetime meditation experience and type |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Sample material Incidence geometry Adverse effect Large sample |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Psychological distress, psychoticism, unusual beliefs, and meditation retreat participation were positively associated with unusual experiences and adverse effects from meditation. |
Abstract
Meditation use is now as common as mental health service access. Understanding meditation- related adverse effects (AEs) is therefore critical. We aimed to (a) estimate incidence rates of meditation-related unusual experiences and AEs, and (b) identify sociodemographic and health-related characteristics predicting their incidence. We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based survey of 886 US adults (approximately representing population age, gender, and race/ethnicity) stratified by lifetime meditation experience and type. 96.6% reported an unusual experience, 58.4% reported an AE (Inventory of Meditation Experiences), 78.3% endorsed 1+ Meditation-related AEs Scale item, 31.4% endorsed experiencing a challenging, difficult, or distressing experience, and 9.1% reported functional impairment due to AEs. In a robust multiple regression, psychological distress, psychoticism, unusual beliefs, and meditation retreat participation were positively associated with unusual experiences and AEs. It is essential that: (a) potential meditators are informed about possible experiences; (b) providers consider risk-factors; and (c) AEs are routinely and actively monitored.