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Meditation lowers stress and supports forgiveness among college students: A randomized controlled trial

Meditation lowers stress and supports forgiveness among college students: A randomized controlled trial
Journal of American College Health
Short Title: Meditation lowers stress and supports forgiveness among college students
Format: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2008
Pages: 569-578
Library/Archive: (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved
Sources ID: 22342
Visibility: Private
Abstract: (Show)

Objective and Participants: The authors evaluated the effects on stress, rumination, forgiveness, and hope of two 8-week, 90-min/wk training programs for college undergraduates in meditation-based stress-management tools. Methods: After a pretest, the authors randomly allocated college undergraduates to training in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR; n = 15), Easwaran's Eight-Point Program (EPP; n = 14), or wait-list control ( n = 15). The authors gathered pretest, posttest, and 8-week follow-up data on self-report outcome measures. Results: The authors observed no post-treatment differences between MBSR and EPP or between posttest and 8-week follow-up ( p > .10). Compared with controls, treated participants ( n = 29) demonstrated significant benefits for stress ( p < .05, Cohen's d = -.45) and forgiveness ( p < .05, d = .34) and marginal benefits for rumination ( p < .10, d = -.34). Conclusions: Evidence suggests that meditation-based stress-management practices reduce stress and enhance forgiveness among college undergraduates. Such programs merit further study as potential health-promotion tools for college populations.

Subjects: 
Psychology and Contemplation
Education and Contemplation
Science and Contemplation
Contemplation by Applied Subject
Higher Education and Contemplation