The Psychobiological Effects of Participation in a One-Month Insight Meditation Retreat
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study was to examine how participation in a 1 month intensive Insight (vipassana) Meditation retreat (a) affects biological markers of cellular aging, social affiliation, and inflammation, which are important for physical health, longevity, and behavior, and (b) to relate observed biological changes to baseline levels and changes in psychological traits, which may underlie improvements in personal adaptive functioning.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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Detailed Description
The investigators are specifically assessing the effects of retreat on telomere length and telomerase levels in participants' white blood cells, as well as plasma levels of interlukin-6 (IL-6), to assess how the retreat experience impacts these markers of cellular aging and inflammation. The hypotheses are that retreat participation will increase both telomere length and telomerase activity, but decrease IL-6 levels. The investigators will also assess the impact of retreat participation on oxytocin-a hormone involved in a number of physiological and behavioral processes, including affiliative bonds and stress responses-the hypothesis being that participation in the retreat will increase plasma oxytocin levels. The investigators will then explore how these and other biomarkers relate to psychological processes and personality traits, which may also be altered by participation in the meditation retreat.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Retreat Participants registered for a one-month, residential Insight Meditation retreat held at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in either February or March, 2013 |
Other: Residential Insight Meditation Retreat
Retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center were led by teams of 6 experienced teachers. Participants practiced "noble silence"-refraining from eye contact as well as verbal and written communication-except during meetings with teachers. Teachers lead guided Insight meditation practices, as well as meditations on loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. The daily schedule consisted of sitting and walking meditation sessions (30-45 mins) totaling 8-10 hours/day, meals, and short work meditations (sweeping, dishes, etc.). Seated meditation was practiced as a group in a meditation hall with approximately 80 participants. Walking meditation took place in adjoining halls or on the grounds. Participants lived on-site during the retreat and were provided with a vegetarian diet.
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| Comparison Experienced meditators from the Spirit Rock Meditation Community |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Telomerase [change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period]
an enzyme that repairs the shortening of telomeres that occurs during aging
- Telomere length [change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period]
the repetitive sequence of DNA that serves as a protective cap to eukaryotic chromosomes, which protects from degradation and instability and is related to longevity
- Interleukin-6 [change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period]
a primary measure of inflammation, which is influenced by psychological stress
- Oxytocin [change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period]
an affiliative hormone associated with social bonding in both men and women, and which downregulates inflammatory cytokines
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Arginine Vasopressin [two measurements, three weeks apart]
a less commonly studied affiliative hormone also associated with close social bonds
- Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor [two measurements, three weeks apart]
a protein related to neuroplasticity, learning, and memory, which is decreased in depression
- pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α) [two measurements, three weeks apart]
a family of proteins involved in generating and regulating the immune system
- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [two measurements, three weeks apart]
10 item scale designed to assess trait-anxiety (STAI; Spielberger et al., 1983)
- Lifestyle Profile II [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses health-promoting lifestyle factors (Walker et al., 1987)
- Experience in Close Relationships, short form [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses attachment anxiety (fear of rejection or abandonment) and avoidance (avoidance of intimacy and interdependence) (ECR-12: Lafontaine et al., 2015)
- Mysticism Scale [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses mystical experience and religious interpretation (M-Scale; Hood, 1975)
- Non-attachment Scale [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses non-attachment from a Buddhist perspective (NAS; Sahdra, Shaver & Brown, 2010)
- Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assess five dimensions of wisdom: 1) Experience, 2) Emotional Regulation, 3) Reminiscence and Reflectiveness, 4) Openness, 5) Humor (SAWS; Webster, 2003)
- Ego Resiliency Scale [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses the ability to adapt one's level of control temporarily up or down as circumstances dictate (EGO; Block & Kremen, 1996)
- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses five facets of mindfulness: 1) Non-reactivity to Inner Experience, 2) Observing 3) Acting with Awareness, 4) Describing, and 5) Non-judging of Experience (FFMQ; Baer et al., 2006)
- Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assesses depressive symptomatology (CES-D; Radloff, 1977)
- Psychological Wellbeing Scale [two measurements, three weeks apart]
Assess autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance (PWBS; Ryff, 1989)
- Three Dimensional Wisdom Scale [two measurements, three weeks]
Assess three dimensions of wisdom: 1) Cognitive, 2) Reflective, and 3) Affective (3-DWS; Ardelt, 2003)
- Big Five Inventory [two measurements, three weeks]
Assesses extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, neuroticism (BFI; Goldberg, 1993)
- Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale [two measurements, three weeks]
Assesses non-acceptance to one's emotional responses, difficulty achieving goals, impulsiveness, lack of emotional awareness, access to emotion regulation strategies, emotional clarity (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004)
Other Outcome Measures
- Gene Expression of genes relating to inflammation and telomere regulation [two measurements, three weeks]
PBMC RNA for exploratory gene expression studies
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Previous meditation experience equivalent to two 5-10 day residential meditation retreats
Exclusion Criteria:
- Disclosure of potentially contagious blood-borne illness (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) or other illnesses that might interfere with telomere or telomerase measurement
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Davis | Davis | California | United States | 95616 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, San Francisco
- University of Barcelona
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Clifford D Saron, PhD, University of California, Davis
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 230734