Transcendental Meditation for Well-Being

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Disqualifiers: Prior TM instruction

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether Transcendental Meditation (TM) can help nurse managers reduce stress and achieve better balance in work and life. Researchers aim to determine if TM affects stress markers in the body and enhances well-being, such as increasing happiness and preventing burnout. Participants will either begin TM immediately or after a delay, with the goal of improving their work-life climate and stress levels. Nurse managers at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System who have been on stable medication for at least two months are eligible, provided they have not previously learned TM. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore the potential benefits of TM in enhancing personal and professional well-being.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not require you to stop taking your current medications. You need to be stable on any prescribed medications for at least two months before joining.

What prior data suggests that Transcendental Meditation is safe for nurse managers?

Research has shown that Transcendental Meditation (TM) is safe when taught by certified teachers, with no known safety risks associated with its practice. One study found that TM reduced stress and improved heart health without causing harm. Another study demonstrated that TM lowered stress levels in healthcare workers over three months. Overall, TM is easy to tolerate and does not have negative side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Transcendental Meditation (TM) for well-being because it offers a non-pharmaceutical approach that may enhance mental and physical health through stress reduction. Unlike standard treatments like medication or cognitive behavioral therapy, TM is a self-managed practice that involves two 20-minute meditation sessions daily, potentially leading to increased mindfulness and relaxation without side effects. The method focuses on achieving a deeply relaxed state of awareness, which could provide benefits in a shorter time frame compared to traditional therapies. Additionally, TM's accessibility and ease of incorporation into daily life make it a promising option for improving well-being.

What evidence suggests that Transcendental Meditation is effective for improving well-being?

Research has shown that Transcendental Meditation (TM) can reduce stress and burnout. One study found that healthcare workers who practiced TM for three months experienced significantly less psychological distress. Another study discovered that students who practiced TM reported reduced stress, depression, and fatigue, along with improved clarity of thought. TM is also known to enhance physical health by improving heart function, sleep, and energy levels. These findings suggest that TM could enhance well-being and alleviate stress-related issues. Participants in this trial will either receive immediate TM instruction or join a control group with delayed instruction. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for nurse managers who are interested in trying Transcendental Meditation (TM) as a way to reduce stress and potentially improve their well-being. Specific eligibility criteria details were not provided, so it's assumed that participants should be currently working as nurse managers.

Inclusion Criteria

Nurse managers within the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMHCS)

I have been on the same medication for anxiety or depression for at least two months.

Exclusion Criteria

Prior instruction in the TM technique

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Immediate TM Instruction

Participants receive initial Transcendental Meditation instruction within three weeks of baseline assessments with follow-up interventions every 2-4 weeks and an expectation of home practice of two 20-minute meditation sessions per day.

4 months

Follow-up interventions every 2-4 weeks

Control Group (delayed instruction)

Participants continue with routine activities and are eligible to receive TM instruction upon completion of the final 4-month assessments.

4 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in telomere length, telomerase activity, work-life balance, perceived stress, burnout, and other psychological measures.

4 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Transcendental Meditation

Trial Overview The study tests if practicing TM can affect markers of stress and aging like Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity, compared to those who just get usual care. It also looks at how TM might influence work-life balance, stress perception, burnout, and overall well-being among nurses.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Immediate TM Instruction Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will receive initial TM instruction within three weeks of baseline assessments with follow-up interventions every 2-4 weeks and an expectation of home practice of two 20min meditation sessions per day.

Group II: Control Group (delayed instruction) Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will be eligible to receive TM instruction upon completion of the final 4-month assessments, and asked to continue with routine activities throughout study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Lead Sponsor

Trials

5

Recruited

770+

Florida Atlantic University

Collaborator

Trials

35

Recruited

10,700+

Citations

1. tm.org tm.org/en-us/benefits/health

Transcendental Meditation Benefits - Better Sleep & Health The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique improves physical well-being: promoting healthier heart function, better sleep, and more energy.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9486450/

Efficacy of Transcendental Meditation to Reduce Stress ... This randomized clinical trial of 80 HCWs showed that TM practice over 3 months reduced psychological distress scores (primary outcome) on the Global Severity ...

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-14898-w

Evaluating the effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation ... The findings suggest that students who undertook TM had reduced levels of stress, depression, fatigue and increased mental clarity and trait ...

4. ojin.nursingworld.org ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-28-2023/number-3-september-2023/articles-on-previously-published-topics/impact-of-transcendental-meditation/

The Impact of Transcendental Meditation: Reducing Burnout ... This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) intervention in a sample of 32 healthcare clinicians.

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1809754

Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Mindfulness meditation programs had moderate evidence of improved anxiety (effect size, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.12-0.64] at 8 weeks and 0.22 [0.02-0.43] at 3-6 months), ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2211376/

Review of Controlled Research on the Transcendental ... Evidence for its ability to reduce traditional and novel risk factors for CVD includes: 1) decreases in blood pressure, 2) reduced use of tobacco and alcohol, ...

7. truthabouttm.org truthabouttm.org/IndividualEffects/DoesTMDoAnyHarm/

Does TM Do Any Harm? This page presents critical reviews of the papers asserting that the Transcendental Meditation program has harmful effects.

8. ebsco.com ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/transcendental-meditation-tm

Transcendental Meditation (TM) | Research Starters There are no known safety risks with the use of TM, especially when taught by certified teachers. It is important to continue to attend regular medical ...

9. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2796494

Efficacy of Transcendental Meditation to Reduce Stress ... This randomized clinical trial of 80 HCWs showed that TM practice over 3 months reduced psychological distress scores (primary outcome) on the Global Severity ...