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The effect of Transcendental Meditation on self-efficacy, perceived stress, and quality of life in mothers in Uganda

DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2018.1445254
Authors:
Leslee R Goldstein at Maharishi International University
Leslee R Goldstein
Sanford I Nidich at Maharishi International University
Sanford I Nidich
Rachel Goodman
Rachel Goodman
Rachel Goodman
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David Goodman at Maharishi International University
David Goodman
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Vulnerable women living in poverty in Uganda, who are primarily single, illiterate mothers, face high levels of physical and psychological stress. Our study assessed the impact of the Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) technique on self-efficacy, perceived stress, and mental and physical quality of life of these women. This single-blind controlled study involved eighty-one women who were assigned to either practice of the Transcendental Meditation program (n = 42) or wait-list (delayed start) control group (n = 39). Participants learned the Transcendental Meditation program over five sessions, then practiced at home for twenty minutes twice a day, and attended twice monthly group meetings over a three-month period. The primary outcome measure was self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Perceived stress using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, and physical and mental quality of life using subscales of the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS, HIV version) were secondary outcome measures. Significant improvements were shown in self-efficacy (p < .001), perceived stress (p < .010), and mental and physical well-being (p < .010). Compliance with TM home practice was > 88%. This is the first controlled study to demonstrate the effect of TM in the daily lives of mothers living in impoverished conditions. Further questionnaires were administered to participants at 8 months and at 36 months with questions about changes they may have experienced in their daily life since starting TM. “Yes”, “No” self-reported answers suggested that the women experienced improved health, improved relationships with others, and increased employment rates. These findings taken as a whole have important implications for developing self-efficacy, improving mental and physical quality of life, and reducing stress in the lives of these vulnerable women.
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... A single-blind design study recruited 81 women facing high levels of physical and psychological stress and allocated them to either a waiting list (delayed start) control group or a meditation intervention group (Goldstein et al., 2018). These findings have critical implications for developing selfefficacy in coping with cancer and alleviating life stress in these vulnerable women (Goldstein et al., 2018). These studies indicated that MBSR could improve women's self-efficacy, which was consistent with the findings of this study. ...
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... For example, in a study with a TM intervention, general self-efficacy was found to be a significant determinant. 48 In a related MTM study, in explaining yoga behaviors in predominantly Black college students also behavioral confidence was found to be statistically significant. 49 Therefore, based on the findings of this study, it can be said that behavioral confidence has a potential for application in behavior change interventions geared toward promoting meditation. ...
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... Dans l'é tude d'Elder et al. [15], une population d'enseignants travaillant sur des publics en difficulté a é té formé e à la MT suivant une formation standard et reconnue dans ce domaine [20]. Aprè s plusieurs sé ances de pratiques, des mesures de l'anxié té , du burn-out et de la dé pression ont é té effectué es sur quatre mois. ...
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  • Feb 2017
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Self-Efficacy Theory in Contemporary Psychology: An Overview
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This paper reviews the basic tenets of self-efficacy theory and discusses several current theoretical issues, including the relationship between self-efficacy expectancies and outcome expectancies; the role of outcome value in self-efficacy theory; and the relationship of self-efficacy theory to other theories of the cognitive mediation of behavior.
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