Meditation and Emotional Intelligence

Perceived Stress Clinical Trial

Official title:

Meditation and Emotional Intelligence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03097510
• Other study ID #: DLF-WEHF-1440
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: March 21, 2017
• Last updated: March 30, 2017
• Start date: October 2009
• Est. completion date: March 2011

Study information

• Verified date: March 2017
• Source: Maharishi University of Management
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 96
• Est. completion date: March 2011
• Est. primary completion date: January 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

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.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Job Stress
• Perceived Stress

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Transcendental meditation
The TM technique was taught as a standard 7 step course over 4 consecutive days. Thereafter, subjects attended bimonthly group meetings for more advanced knowledge over the four month intervention period.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Maharishi University of Management	Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i)	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.	Change from baseline EQ-i at four months
Secondary	Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)	The PSS is a 14-item instrument that measures the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.	Change from baseline PSS at four months