The effect of the transcendental meditation technique on anxiety level

Practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique twice daily for two weeks reduces anxiety more effectively than twice-daily passive relaxation. Thirty-three graduate and undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either a TM group or a relaxation group. After two weeks, TM was significantly more effective at lowering anxiety, as measured by the Trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. This indicates that the anxiety-reducing effect of TM cannot be attributed solely to sitting quietly twice daily, though further research is needed to determine how much participants' expectations for change contributed to the outcome.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Two weeks of twice-daily practice of the transcendental Meditation (TM) technique was compared with 2 weeks of twice-daily practice of passive relaxation as a means of reduction of anxiety, as measured by the Trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Thirty-three graduate and undergraduate students were assigned randomly to a relaxation group and a TM group. After a 2-week experimental interval, the relaxation and meditation Ss, as well as between conditions of the relaxation-mediation group; TM was significantly more effective in reducing anxiety level. Thus, the anxiety-reducing effect of the practice of TM cannot be attributed merely to sitting quietly twice daily, although additional research must determine the extent to which S expectations for change contributed to this effect.