Meditation Needs To A Greater Extent Than Research: Written Report Finds 25% Live Unpleasant Experiences

More than a quarter of people who regularly meditate accept had a 'particularly unpleasant' psychological experience related to the practice, including feelings of fright as well as distorted emotions, a UCL-led study has found.
The research, published inwards PLOS ONE, also flora those who had attended a meditation retreat, those who alone skilful deconstructive types of meditation, such every bit Vipassana (insight) as well as Koan practise (used inwards Zen Buddhism), as well as those amongst higher levels of repetitive negative thinking, were to a greater extent than probable to study a 'particularly unpleasant' meditation-related experience.
However, the study, which comprised an international online survey of 1,232 people who had at to the lowest degree 2 months' meditation experience, flora woman mortal participants as well as those amongst a faith were less probable to accept had a 'particularly unpleasant' experience.
Lead author, researcher Marco Schlosser, (UCL Division of Psychiatry), said: "These findings dot to the importance of widening earth as well as scientific agreement of meditation beyond that of a health-promoting technique.
"Very footling is known most why, when, as well as how such meditation-related difficulties tin occur: to a greater extent than enquiry is similar a shot needed to empathize the nature of these experiences.
"When are unpleasant experiences of import elements of meditative development, as well as when are they simply negative effects to live on avoided?"
The study, conducted amongst researchers at Witten/Herdecke University, Germany, as well as the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, was triggered past times a express but growing issue of enquiry reports as well as instance studies, which quest psychologically unpleasant experiences tin locomote on during meditative practice. Some traditional Buddhist texts also reference brilliant accounts of similar experiences.
However, really footling is known most the prevalence of these experiences.
Participants answered the next question: "Have you lot e'er had whatever peculiarly unpleasant experiences (e.g. anxiety, fear, distorted emotions or thoughts, altered sense of self or the world), which you lot intend may accept been caused past times your meditation practice?".
Meditators also reported how long they had been practicing meditation as well as the frequency of practice, whether they had attended a meditation retreat at whatever dot inwards their life as well as what cast of meditation they skilful (attentional, constructive, or deconstructive*). They also completed measures of repetitive negative thinking as well as self-compassion.
Results
Of the 1,232 participants, 25.6% indicated that they had previously encountered peculiarly unpleasant meditation-related experiences.
More manly mortal participants, 28.5%, experienced a peculiarly unpleasant experience, compared to 23% of woman mortal participants.
30.6% of those who did non accept a faith had a peculiarly unpleasant experience, compared to 22% of those who had a religious belief.
More people, 29.2%, who skilful alone deconstructive types of meditation reported a peculiarly unpleasant experience, compared to 20.3% who alone engaged inwards other meditation types.
And 29% of those who had been on a meditation retreat (at whatever dot inwards life) had a peculiarly unpleasant experience, compared amongst 19.6%, who had never been on a retreat.
Marco Schlosser added: "Most enquiry on meditation has focussed on its benefits, however, the hit of meditative experiences studied past times scientists needs to live on expanded. It is of import at this dot non to describe premature conclusions most the potential negative effects of meditation.
"Longitudinal studies volition assist to larn when, for whom, as well as nether what circumstances these unpleasant experiences arise, as well as whether they tin accept long-term effects. This futurity enquiry could inform clinical guidelines, mindfulness manuals, as well as meditation instructor training."
Study limitations
The study alone asked i enquiry to capture prevalence of peculiarly unpleasant meditation-related experiences. The information does non render whatever indication of the exact type of experiences or their severity as well as impact. Further, including a listing of specific examples (i.e., anxiety, fear, distorted emotions or thoughts, altered sense of self or the world) inwards the enquiry most these experiences may accept biased participants' responses towards recalling these detail experiences over others.
The study did non assess possible pre-existing mental wellness problems, which could accept confounded the prevalence gauge of peculiarly unpleasant meditation-related experiences.
The cross-sectional nature of the information does non allow researchers to clearly infer whether meditation caused these experiences.
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