Effects of Brief and Sham Mindfulness Meditation on Mood and Cardiovascular Variables
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Short Title:
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
2010/07/28/
Pages:
867 - 873
Sources ID:
109026
Collection:
Mindfulness Studies and Undergraduates
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Objectives: Although long-term meditation has been found to reduce negative mood and cardiovascular variables, the effects of a brief mindfulness meditation intervention when compared to a sham mindfulness meditation intervention are relatively unknown. This experiment examined whether a 3-day (1-hour total) mindfulness or sham mindfulness meditation intervention would improve mood and cardiovascular variables when compared to a control group.Methods: Eighty-two (82) undergraduate students (34 males, 48 females), with no prior meditation experience, participated in three sessions that involved training in either mindfulness meditation, sham mindfulness meditation, or a control group. Heart rate, blood pressure, and psychologic variables (Profile of Mood States, State Anxiety Inventory) were assessed before and after the intervention.Results: The meditation intervention was more effective at reducing negative mood, depression, fatigue, confusion, and heart rate, when compared to the sham and control groups.Conclusions: These results indicate that brief meditation training has beneficial effects on mood and cardiovascular variables that go beyond the demand characteristics of a sham meditation intervention.