[Therapeutically relevant effects by transcendental meditation?]

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Personality Studies
• Mind-Body Practices

Background:

• Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a widely practiced meditation technique.
• Previous research suggests meditation can impact psychological well-being.
• The Freiburger Personality Inventory (FPI) is a validated tool for assessing personality traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the personality changes associated with beginning Transcendental Meditation.
• To compare personality profiles of successful TM practitioners with dropouts and controls.
• To explore the relationship between personality traits and long-term TM practice.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal studies (8 weeks and 14 months) administering the Freiburger Personality Inventory (FPI) to TM beginners.
• Cross-sectional study (360 TM practitioners) assessing personality and practice duration.
• Comparison of TM practitioners with dropout controls and general population norms.

Main Results:

• TM beginners exhibited reduced domineering tendencies.
• Long-term meditators (14 months) showed greater FPI improvements than dropouts.
• Individuals with high extraversion before starting TM were more likely to drop out.
• Reduced openness compared to norms was observed in some TM practitioners.

Conclusions:

• Successful TM practice is associated with specific personality shifts, including reduced dominance.
• Personality traits, particularly high extraversion, may influence adherence to TM.
• A self-critical and open attitude appears crucial for successful long-term TM engagement.
• Further research is needed to understand the nuanced effects of TM on diverse personality types.