Effects of transcendental meditation on mental health and work productivity among university staff in Australia: A randomised controlled trial.
Mahesh Kumar Khanal, Leila Karimi, Peter Saunders et al.
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In 30 seconds
This two-arm, open-label randomised controlled trial assessed transcendental meditation (TM) among staff at an Australian university, comparing five-day training plus regular practice with usual wellbeing resources. Across six months, TM reduced perceived stress relative to control, with an adjusted mean difference of - 2.25 [95% CI: -3.33, -1.17], p < .001, and a moderate effect size (Hedge g = -0.52). Improvements were also reported in anxiety and depression symptoms, burnout, sleep quality, well-being, and health-related quality of life. No adverse effects were reported.
Key findings
- Perceived stress was lower with TM over six months than with control: adjusted mean difference - 2.25 [95% CI: -3.33, -1.17], p < .001.
- The TM group also showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression symptoms, burnout, sleep quality, well-being, and health-related quality of life.
- Exploratory analyses associated twice-daily TM practice with improvements in perceived stress, well-being, health-related quality of life, depression symptoms, and burnout (p < .05).
- No adverse effects were reported.
Why it matters
Work-related psychological stress can affect mental health, quality of life, and functioning. In this trial, TM was associated with improvements across several of these outcomes, not only perceived stress, over six months. The findings add randomised evidence for a workplace-based approach, while the open-label design and lack of an active comparator mean the results should be interpreted with appropriate caution.
What to keep in mind
The trial was open-label and compared TM with usual wellbeing resources rather than an active comparator. The authors state that longer follow-up is needed.