Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

preventing disasters and distressatherosclerosis (Castillo-Richmond, Schneider, Alexander, Cook,Myers, et al., 2000), improved quality of life and physical function inpatients with congestive heart failure (Jayadevappa, Johnson, Bloom,Nidich, Desai, et al., 2007), reduced metabolic syndrome (Paul-Labrador,Polk, Dwyer, Velasquez, Nidich, et al., 2006), enhanced longevity(Schneider, Alexander, Staggers, Rainforth, Salerno, et al., 2005) (forpdf of these papers, see NIH-Funded Scientific Research on TranscendentalMeditation, 2010.)With this evidence for physiological anti-stress effects of the TranscendentalMeditation program, similar effects on mental health alsowould be expected. In fact, a meta-analysis of 146 independent outcomesand studies found that the Transcendental Meditation techniquesignificantly reduced trait anxiety—a measure of chronic stress—comparedto progressive relaxation, other muscle relaxation techniquesand other meditation techniques (Eppley, Abrams, & Shear, 1989).This study statistically controlled for strength of experimental design,researcher bias, expectancy, treatment length, and other potentialsources of systematic error. Lower trait anxiety predicts reduced experienceof stress, and consequently less severe impairment of performancein emergency situations.Excessive use of alcohol, nicotine and drugs is frequently associatedwith chronic stress. Here also, the effectiveness of this program in preventingsuch abuse is evident from a meta-¬analysis comparing manyapproaches. Based on 19 studies on the Transcendental Meditationtechnique and the results of previous meta-analyses (198 independentoutcomes in all), abstinence rates in Transcendental Meditation programparticipants for alcohol, nicotine and drugs over a 12 to 18-monthperiod ranged from 51% to 89%, which is two to ten times greater thanthe effect of other major prevention and treatment strategies (Alexander,Robinson, & Rainforth, 1994).The distinctive effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation programin improving emotional functioning is fur ther indicated by a metaanalysisof its effects on self-actualization, a measure of positive men talhealth (Alexander, Rainforth, & Gelderloos, 1991). Results based on42 available independent outcomes showed effect sizes three timeslarger in the Transcendental Meditation studies than in those fromother meditation and relaxation approaches. Even in a highly intrac-505