meditation & Telomeres -
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meditation & Telomeres -

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary outcome measure in the study?

  • Personality traits
  • Telomerase activity (correct)
  • Perceived stress
  • Mindfulness levels

    • Which of the following personality traits was most strongly associated with increases in telomerase activity?

  • Extroversion
  • Neuroticism (correct)
  • Openness
  • Conscientiousness

    • What was the purpose of the control group in this study design?

  • To measure changes in mindfulness without any intervention
  • To measure changes in perceived stress without any intervention
  • To measure changes in personality traits without any intervention
  • To measure changes in telomerase activity over time without any intervention (correct)

    • Which psychological variable was most strongly associated with increases in telomerase activity?

    <p>All of the above were equally associated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'stratification' refer to in the context of this study?

    <p>Dividing participants into different groups based on their meditation experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between sense of purpose and stress resilience?

    <p>Sense of purpose increases stress resilience through more flexible coping.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the connection between meaning and perceived stress according to the text?

    <p>Greater meaning is associated with lower perceived stress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of the 'health-behaviour cycles' described in the text?

    <p>They activate bodily resources resulting in gratifying outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key requirement for the 'do-able starting point' of the 'health-behaviour cycles'?

    <p>The starting point must be small changes that 'everyone can do'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of telomeres in the 'health-behaviour cycles' described in the text?

    <p>Telomere extension may be the final 'link' in the 'chain of healthy interactions'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary objective of the study described in the text?

    <p>To examine the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomere length in a population of dedicated meditators.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the stratification in the study design?

    <p>To ensure that the retreat and waitlist control groups were matched on key demographic characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following criteria was NOT used to screen and select participants for the study?

    <p>No previous experience with meditation or mindfulness practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the approximate total duration of the meditation retreat for participants in the study?

    <p>Between 504 and 588 hours.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the psychological assessments at pre and post-retreat in the study?

    <p>To assess participants' psychological well-being and meditation experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main focus of Ryff’s Well-Being Scale used in the study?

    <p>Measuring six dimensions of psychological function, including Purpose in Life and Environmental Mastery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in the study?

    <p>To measure different aspects of mindfulness, including observing experience and acting with attentional awareness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why were post-retreat psychological assessments completed within 2 days of blood sample collection?

    <p>To link changes in telomerase activity with immediate psychological responses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary objective of the meetings held in mornings/evenings for guided meditations & discussion?

    <p>To provide opportunities for guided meditation sessions and discussions on their experiences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of 'randomization within strata' in research design?

    <p>To create precise groupings of subjects for comparison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How were control participants compensated in the study described in the text?

    <p>Given monetary compensation for participating in assessments and travel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why were control participants on-site for 5 days before PBMC collection?

    <p>To adjust to the setting and altitude of the retreat location.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the benefit of compensating retreat participants for participation in assessments at $20/hour?

    <p>To align their compensation with control group participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does 'stratification' contribute to better equivalence between compared groups in research studies?

    <p>By creating pre-defined subdivisions that assist in obtaining equivalence across groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary purpose of stratifying participants into the retreat and wait-list control groups?

    <p>To ensure equal distribution of potential confounding variables between groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following criteria was NOT used to screen and select participants for the study?

    <p>Completion of a physical fitness assessment to ensure ability to participate in the retreat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary method used to assess the presence of psychiatric impairments in potential participants?

    <p>M.I.N.I. screen and a clinical telephone interview with a psychologist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the approximate duration of the meditation retreat for participants in the experimental group?

    <p>504 to 588 hours</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary method used to match participants between the retreat and wait-list control groups?

    <p>Matching based on age, sex, and years of meditation experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Big Five Inventory

    • The Big Five Inventory measures major personality factors: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (O-C-E-A-N).
    • Neuroticism is the tendency to experience negative emotions and cognitions, associated with a low stress tolerance.

    Telomerase and Meditation

    • Telomerase is inversely related to perceived stress (Epel et al., 2004).
    • Meditation practice reduces perceived stress (Brown and Ryan, 2003; Nyklıcke and Kuijers, 2008).
    • After intensive meditation training, retreat subjects had significantly higher telomerase activity than waitlist controls.

    Psychological Improvements

    • Psychological improvements were seen in: Perceived Control, Purpose in Life, Mindfulness, and Neuroticism.
    • Changes in Mindfulness mediate changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism.
    • Changes in Purpose in Life mediate changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism.

    Health-Behaviour Cycles

    • Health-Behaviour Cycles can be initiated and sustained through multiple health-behaviour cycles.
    • Three criteria for introduction of multiple health-behaviour cycles:
      • Do-able starting point with small changes that build to larger changes.
      • Activation of bodily wisdoms/resources resulting in gratifying outcomes.
      • Scientifically verifiable, not just due to placebo responses.

    Meditation Retreat Study

    • Study population: 60 participants, matched on demographics and meditation experience, randomized to on-site 3-month meditation retreat or wait-list control.
    • Participants recruited through ads in meditation centers, Buddhist magazines, and Buddhist websites.
    • Inclusion criteria: age between 21-70y, agreement to refrain from alcohol/tobacco/recreational drugs, availability for testing, and willingness to be allocated to either wait-list control group or retreat group.

    Select and Unusual Population

    • Participants were dedicated meditators with previous participation in 3 or more 5-10 day meditation retreats.
    • Population was stratified by sex, age, and years of meditation experience.

    Meditation Practices

    • Meditation practices included: Cultivation of attentional skills (Mindfulness of Breath; Open Awareness) and Generation of benevolent mental states (Loving-kindness Meditation).
    • Participants primarily did solitary meditation sessions for ~6.3 hours/day.

    Psychological Assessments

    • Psychological assessments were conducted at pre- and post-retreat using Ryff's Well-Being Scale, Mindfulness Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and other self-report measures.
    • Assessments were completed within 2 days of blood sample collection, and follow-up home-based assessments were completed at 5 months following retreat.

    Population Demographics

    • Population had higher SES, with mean education in years = 4.8 vs. 5.2 and mean income > 70K/yr USD in 2011.
    • Retreat participants were subsidized for room and board, but were compensated for participation in assessments.
    • Control participants were flown to the retreat before, during, and after the retreat to undergo assessments, and were compensated for participation and travel.

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    Related Documents

    Mindfulness Intervention & Telomeres PDF 2024

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the study by T.Jacobs et al. (2011) which explores the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomeres in a unique population. Learn about the recruitment process, demographics, and meditation experience of the participants.

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