Fred Travis1, Laurent Valosek2, Arthur Konrad3, Janice Link4, John Salerno5, Ray Scheller5, Sanford Nidich5. 1. Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education, United States; Center for Brain Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA, United States. 2. Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education, United States. Electronic address: lvalosek@cwae.org. 3. University of California at Santa Cruz (Graduate), United States. 4. San Francisco Unified School District, United States. 5. Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education, United States; Center for Social and Emotional Health, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychological stability and brain integration are important factors related to physical and mental health and organization effectiveness. This study tested whether a mind-body technique, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program could increase EEG brain integration and positive affect, and decrease psychological distress in government employees. METHOD: Ninety-six central office administrators and staff at the San Francisco Unified School District were randomly assigned to either immediate start of the TM program or to a wait-list control group. At baseline and four-month posttest, participants completed an online version of the Profile of Mood States questionnaire (POMS). In addition, a subset of this population (N = 79) had their EEG recorded at baseline and at four-month posttest to calculate Brain Integration Scale (BIS) scores. RESULTS: At posttest, TM participants significantly decreased on the POMS Total Mood Disturbance and anxiety, anger, depression, fatigue, and confusion subscales, and significantly increased in the POMS vigor subscale. TM participants in the EEG-subgroup also significantly increased in BIS scores. Compliance with meditation practice was high (93%). CONCLUSION: Findings indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing the TM program to improve brain integration and positive affect and reduce psychological distress in government administrators and staff.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Psychological stability and brain integration are important factors related to physical and mental health and organization effectiveness. This study tested whether a mind-body technique, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program could increase EEG brain integration and positive affect, and decrease psychological distress in government employees. METHOD: Ninety-six central office administrators and staff at the San Francisco Unified School District were randomly assigned to either immediate start of the TM program or to a wait-list control group. At baseline and four-month posttest, participants completed an online version of the Profile of Mood States questionnaire (POMS). In addition, a subset of this population (N = 79) had their EEG recorded at baseline and at four-month posttest to calculate Brain Integration Scale (BIS) scores. RESULTS: At posttest, TM participants significantly decreased on the POMS Total Mood Disturbance and anxiety, anger, depression, fatigue, and confusion subscales, and significantly increased in the POMS vigor subscale. TM participants in the EEG-subgroup also significantly increased in BIS scores. Compliance with meditation practice was high (93%). CONCLUSION: Findings indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing the TM program to improve brain integration and positive affect and reduce psychological distress in government administrators and staff.
Authors: Elke R Gizewski; Ruth Steiger; Michaela Waibel; Sergiy Pereverzyev; Patrick J D Sommer; Christian Siedentopf; Astrid E Grams; Lukas Lenhart; Nicolas Singewald Journal: Brain Behav Date: 2020-12-10 Impact factor: 2.708
Authors: Yolanda Álvarez-Pérez; Amado Rivero-Santana; Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez; Andrea Duarte-Díaz; Vanesa Ramos-García; Ana Toledo-Chávarri; Alezandra Torres-Castaño; Beatriz León-Salas; Diego Infante-Ventura; Nerea González-Hernández; Leticia Rodríguez-Rodríguez; Pedro Serrano-Aguilar Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-13 Impact factor: 3.390