The Psychobiological Effects of Participation in a One-Month Insight Meditation Retreat
- Conditions
- Aging
- Interventions
- Other: Residential Insight Meditation Retreat
- Registration Number
- NCT03056105
- Lead Sponsor
- University of California, Davis
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this study was to examine how participation in a 1 month intensive Insight (vipassana) Meditation retreat (a) affects biological markers of cellular aging, social affiliation, and inflammation, which are important for physical health, longevity, and behavior, and (b) to relate observed biological changes to baseline levels and changes in psychological traits, which may underlie improvements in personal adaptive functioning.
- Detailed Description
The investigators are specifically assessing the effects of retreat on telomere length and telomerase levels in participants' white blood cells, as well as plasma levels of interlukin-6 (IL-6), to assess how the retreat experience impacts these markers of cellular aging and inflammation. The hypotheses are that retreat participation will increase both telomere length and telomerase activity, but decrease IL-6 levels. The investigators will also assess the impact of retreat participation on oxytocin-a hormone involved in a number of physiological and behavioral processes, including affiliative bonds and stress responses-the hypothesis being that participation in the retreat will increase plasma oxytocin levels. The investigators will then explore how these and other biomarkers relate to psychological processes and personality traits, which may also be altered by participation in the meditation retreat.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 66
- Previous meditation experience equivalent to two 5-10 day residential meditation retreats
- Disclosure of potentially contagious blood-borne illness (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) or other illnesses that might interfere with telomere or telomerase measurement
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Retreat Residential Insight Meditation Retreat Participants registered for a one-month, residential Insight Meditation retreat held at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in either February or March, 2013
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Oxytocin change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period an affiliative hormone associated with social bonding in both men and women, and which downregulates inflammatory cytokines
Telomerase change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period an enzyme that repairs the shortening of telomeres that occurs during aging
Telomere length change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period the repetitive sequence of DNA that serves as a protective cap to eukaryotic chromosomes, which protects from degradation and instability and is related to longevity
Interleukin-6 change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period a primary measure of inflammation, which is influenced by psychological stress
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α) two measurements, three weeks apart a family of proteins involved in generating and regulating the immune system
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor two measurements, three weeks apart a protein related to neuroplasticity, learning, and memory, which is decreased in depression
Lifestyle Profile II two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses health-promoting lifestyle factors (Walker et al., 1987)
Experience in Close Relationships, short form two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses attachment anxiety (fear of rejection or abandonment) and avoidance (avoidance of intimacy and interdependence) (ECR-12: Lafontaine et al., 2015)
Non-attachment Scale two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses non-attachment from a Buddhist perspective (NAS; Sahdra, Shaver \& Brown, 2010)
Psychological Wellbeing Scale two measurements, three weeks apart Assess autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance (PWBS; Ryff, 1989)
Mysticism Scale two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses mystical experience and religious interpretation (M-Scale; Hood, 1975)
Big Five Inventory two measurements, three weeks Assesses extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, neuroticism (BFI; Goldberg, 1993)
Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale two measurements, three weeks apart Assess five dimensions of wisdom: 1) Experience, 2) Emotional Regulation, 3) Reminiscence and Reflectiveness, 4) Openness, 5) Humor (SAWS; Webster, 2003)
Ego Resiliency Scale two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses the ability to adapt one's level of control temporarily up or down as circumstances dictate (EGO; Block \& Kremen, 1996)
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses five facets of mindfulness: 1) Non-reactivity to Inner Experience, 2) Observing 3) Acting with Awareness, 4) Describing, and 5) Non-judging of Experience (FFMQ; Baer et al., 2006)
Three Dimensional Wisdom Scale two measurements, three weeks Assess three dimensions of wisdom: 1) Cognitive, 2) Reflective, and 3) Affective (3-DWS; Ardelt, 2003)
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale two measurements, three weeks Assesses non-acceptance to one's emotional responses, difficulty achieving goals, impulsiveness, lack of emotional awareness, access to emotion regulation strategies, emotional clarity (DERS; Gratz \& Roemer, 2004)
Arginine Vasopressin two measurements, three weeks apart a less commonly studied affiliative hormone also associated with close social bonds
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory two measurements, three weeks apart 10 item scale designed to assess trait-anxiety (STAI; Spielberger et al., 1983)
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale two measurements, three weeks apart Assesses depressive symptomatology (CES-D; Radloff, 1977)
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of California, Davis
🇺🇸Davis, California, United States