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The findings of a recent study showed a 15% higher graduation rate for the entire meditating group compared to non-meditating controls, and meditating students were less apt to dropout from school, or enter prison, and were more likely to be accepted to post-secondary institutions.
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by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
September 2013
A study published in the June 2013 issue of the journal Education found that the Transcendental Meditation technique was associated with higher graduation rates compared to controls.
Analysis of school records at an East Coast urban high school was conducted with all 235 students enrolled during their senior year to determine on-time graduation. Findings showed a 15% higher graduation rate for the entire meditating group compared to non-meditating controls, after taking into account student grade point average. Subgroup analysis further indicated a 25% difference in graduation rates when considering only the low academic performing students in both groups.
"These results are the first to show that the Transcendental Meditation program can have a positive impact on student graduation rates," said Maharishi University of Management (MUM) professor Sanford Nidich, coauthor. "The largest effect was found in the most academically challenged students. Recently published research on increased academic achievement and reduced psychological stress in urban school students may provide possible mechanisms for the higher graduation rates found in this study."
Findings also showed significant differences for dropout rates and college acceptance. Meditating students were less apt to dropout from school, or enter prison, and were more likely to be accepted to post-secondary institutions.
"While there are bright spots in public education today, urban schools on the whole tend to suffer from a range of factors which contribute to poor student academic performance and low graduation rates," said lead author Robert D. Colbert, director of Neag School of Education's Diversity Council at University of Connecticut.
"Students need to be provided with value-added educational programs that can provide opportunities for school success," he said. "Our study investigated one such program, Transcendental Meditation, which appears to hold tremendous promise for enriching the lives of our nation's students."
Graduation from high school translates into higher earning potential, less crime and incarceration, and less dependence on government assistance programs.
© Copyright 2013 Maharishi University of Management
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