The study conducted with 106 at-risk school students showed a 36% reduction in overall psychological distress in those practising the TM technique.

Dr. Nidich publishes new research on reduction of student stress
by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
28 October 2011

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 106 at-risk school students, showed a 36% reduction in overall psychological distress over four months. Significant decreases were also found in trait anxiety and depressive symptoms.

"These new findings on reduced stress, along with the recent research on academic achievement gains, hold tremendous promise for public education," said Maharishi University of Management professor Sanford Nidich, first author of the study. "There is 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."

These results on reduced stress in public school students are timely, Dr. Nidich says. A recent national survey by UCLA showed record low levels of high school student emotional health. Barely 50% of students surveyed
reported good or above-average emotional health—the lowest level in the past 25 years.

"Educational research has linked low levels of emotional health and student stress to negative school behavior and poor academic performance," Dr. Nidich said. "In addition, high levels of psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, are associated with increased risk for major chronic diseases, including heart disease."

These results were presented at an earlier meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in San Diego.

Other coauthors of the study included Charles Elder, John Hagelin, Randi Nidich, Maxwell Rainforth, Chris Jones, Robert Colbert, Lisa Grayshield, Denise Gerace, and Dynah Oviedo-Lim.

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