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New study shows reduced stress in school students A new study published in the Journal of Instructional Psychology found the Transcendental Meditation technique significantly decreased psychological distress in public school students. The study, conducted with at-risk minority secondary school students, showed a 36 percent reduction in overall psychological distress. Significant decreases were also found in trait anxiety and depressive symptoms. "It's vital that we start addressing the high levels of emotional stress being reported by high school and college students," said Charles Elder, M.D., lead author of the study and investigator at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research. "Decreased stress can have a positive impact on mental health, and can also reduce the risk for hypertension, obesity, and diabetes -- major risk factors for heart disease. "These new findings on reduced stress, along with the recent research on academic achievement gains, hold tremendous promise for public education," said Sanford Nidich, Ed.D., principal investigator and Maharishi University of Management professor of education. "There's a growing body of evidence showing the Transcendental Meditation technique to be an easy-to-implement, value-added educational program that promotes emotional health and increases academic achievement in at-risk students." A total of 106 secondary school students, 87% racial and ethnic minorities, took part in the study. Results showed that over a four-month period, students practicing Transcendental Meditation as part of their school's Quiet Time program exhibited significant reductions in psychological distress factors compared to controls. © Copyright 2011 Maharishi University of Management
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