Meditation and Emotional Intelligence

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Perceived Stress; Job Stress
• Interventions: Behavioral: Transcendental meditation

• Registration Number: NCT03097510
• Lead Sponsor: Maharishi International University

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of the Transcendental Meditation program on emotional intelligence and perceived stress in supervisors and administrative staff in a public school system

Detailed Description

The objective of this study was to determine whether a mind-body technique, known as the practice of Transcendental Meditation® (TM), could significantly increase emotional intelligence and decrease perceived stress in supervisors and administrative staff in a public school system. For this purpose, 96 participants from the administrative offices of the San Francisco Unified School District were randomly assigned to either immediate start of the TM program or to a delayed start wait-list control group. Subjects learning TM were instructed to meditate for 20 minutes twice a day for the four month duration of the project. All subjects were administered the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at baseline and posttest. If successful, these findings would suggest that TM could be used as a professional development program in organizations to increase emotional intelligence and decrease perceived stress, in turn enhancing leadership capacity and organizational effectiveness.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-10
• Primary Completion: 2011-01
• Study Completion: 2011-03
• Status Verified: 2017-03
• Study First Submitted: 2017-03-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-03-30
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-03-30
• Study First Posted: 2017-03-31
• Last Update Posted: 2017-03-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 96

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years or older,
• an employee of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD),
• attendance at an informational meeting on the TM program,
• willingness to be randomly assigned to either active treatment or the control group.

Exclusion Criteria

• having already learned the TM program,
• not being available to attend treatment or testing sessions.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Transcendental Meditation	Transcendental meditation	The TM technique is a simple, natural, effortless technique that allows the mind to experience finer levels of the thinking process until the mind transcends and experiences the source of thought, a state of deep, integrated relaxation. During the meditation session, the active mind settles down to a silent yet fully awake state of awareness. TM was taught to study participants by certified instructors, using standardized procedures for teaching.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i)	Change from baseline EQ-i at four months	The EQ-i is a self-report instrument that measures a range of non-cognitive capabilities, competencies, and skills that influence one's ability to succeed in coping with environmental demands and pressures.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)	Change from baseline PSS at four months	The PSS is a 14-item instrument that measures the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.