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Meditation and Emotional Intelligence

Sponsor
Maharishi International University (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT03097510
Collaborator
Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (Other)
96
Enrollment
2
Arms
17
Actual Duration (Months)

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of the Transcendental Meditation program on emotional intelligence and perceived stress in supervisors and administrative staff in a public school system

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Behavioral: Transcendental meditation
 N/A

Detailed Description

The objective of this study was to determine whether a mind-body technique, known as the practice of Transcendental Meditation® (TM), could significantly increase emotional intelligence and decrease perceived stress in supervisors and administrative staff in a public school system. For this purpose, 96 participants from the administrative offices of the San Francisco Unified School District were randomly assigned to either immediate start of the TM program or to a delayed start wait-list control group. Subjects learning TM were instructed to meditate for 20 minutes twice a day for the four month duration of the project. All subjects were administered the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at baseline and posttest. If successful, these findings would suggest that TM could be used as a professional development program in organizations to increase emotional intelligence and decrease perceived stress, in turn enhancing leadership capacity and organizational effectiveness.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
96 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
randomized controlled trialrandomized controlled trial
Masking:
Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description:
data collectors and investigators were blind to treatment status of the subject
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Meditation and Emotional Intelligence: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Actual Study Start Date :
Oct 1, 2009
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Jan 1, 2011
Actual Study Completion Date :
Mar 1, 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Transcendental Meditation

The TM technique is a simple, natural, effortless technique that allows the mind to experience finer levels of the thinking process until the mind transcends and experiences the source of thought, a state of deep, integrated relaxation. During the meditation session, the active mind settles down to a silent yet fully awake state of awareness. TM was taught to study participants by certified instructors, using standardized procedures for teaching.

Behavioral: Transcendental meditation
The TM technique was taught as a standard 7 step course over 4 consecutive days. Thereafter, subjects attended bimonthly group meetings for more advanced knowledge over the four month intervention period.
Other Names:
  • TM technique

    		•
    No Intervention: Wait list control

    This wait list group served as the control group. After the study was completed, the wait-list controls were given the option to learn the TM technique as their reward for participating as controls during the 4 month study.

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) [Change from baseline EQ-i at four months]

      The EQ-i is a self-report instrument that measures a range of non-cognitive capabilities, competencies, and skills that influence one's ability to succeed in coping with environmental demands and pressures.

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) [Change from baseline PSS at four months]

      The PSS is a 14-item instrument that measures the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    N/A and Older
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    Yes
    Inclusion Criteria:

    • 18 years or older,

    • an employee of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD),

    • attendance at an informational meeting on the TM program,

    • willingness to be randomly assigned to either active treatment or the control group.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • having already learned the TM program,

    • not being available to attend treatment or testing sessions.

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    No locations specified.

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • Maharishi International University
    • Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education

    Investigators

    • Study Director: Laurent D Valosek, Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    Sanford Nidich, Associate Director, Maharishi University of Management Research Institute
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT03097510
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • DLF-WEHF-1440
    First Posted:
    Mar 31, 2017
    Last Update Posted:
    Mar 31, 2017
    Last Verified:
    Mar 1, 2017
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    Undecided
    Plan to Share IPD:
    Undecided
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Keywords provided by Sanford Nidich, Associate Director, Maharishi University of Management Research Institute
    Perceived stress
    Leadership
    Transcendental Meditation
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:
    Occupational Stress

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Mar 31, 2017