Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

consciousness-based education and governmentpracticing the Transcendental Meditation program. Using the RosenbergSelf-Esteem scale as a measure of self-competence and self-worth(Rosenberg, 1965), findings indicated a significant improvement overan average of five months (Grant et al., 2009). Dillbeck, Clayborne &Dillbeck (1990) also found improvements in self-esteem measures withlow-income inner city children, along with increases in field independenceand self-actualization.Behavior: Absenteeism, Suspensions, Rule Infractions, and SubstanceUsageA randomized controlled study by Barnes et al. (2001) with 45 AfricanAmerican public secondary school students showed significant reductionsin absenteeism, suspensions, and rule infractions in students practicingthe Transcendental Meditation technique compared to controlsover a four-month intervention period. The Transcendental Meditationgroup showed a mean decrease of 6.4 absentee periods compared to anincrease of 4.8 absentee periods in the control group. The meditationgroup showed a mean reduction of 0.3 suspension days compared to anincrease of 1.2 days in the control group. The meditation group furthershowed a mean decrease of 0.1 rule infractions compared to an increaseof 0.3 in the control group.Another secondary school study showed lower absenteeism in thosepracticing the Transcendental Meditation technique compared to nonmeditatingcontrols (Boncheff, 2009). This was a cross-sectional studywith 195 students, predominantly low-income American Indian students(124 meditating and 71 non-meditating controls). Those studentswho were practicing the Transcendental Meditation program had 23%less days absent than the non-meditating students. Meditating studentsshowed a mean of 24.8 days absent and non-meditating controlsshowed a mean = 32.4 days absent.In terms of reduced substance usage, randomized controlled researchin college students showed decreased use of alcohol over a three-monthperiod in students practicing Transcendental Meditation comparedto controls (Haaga et al., 2011). Alexander and colleagues (1994) ina met-analysis study found significant reductions in alcohol, nicotine,and drug abuse in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditationtechnique.308