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Questions and Answers
What was the primary outcome measure in the study?
What was the primary outcome measure in the study?
Which of the following personality traits was most strongly associated with increases in telomerase activity?
Which of the following personality traits was most strongly associated with increases in telomerase activity?
What was the purpose of the control group in this study design?
What was the purpose of the control group in this study design?
Which psychological variable was most strongly associated with increases in telomerase activity?
Which psychological variable was most strongly associated with increases in telomerase activity?
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What does the term 'stratification' refer to in the context of this study?
What does the term 'stratification' refer to in the context of this study?
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What is the relationship between sense of purpose and stress resilience?
What is the relationship between sense of purpose and stress resilience?
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What is the connection between meaning and perceived stress according to the text?
What is the connection between meaning and perceived stress according to the text?
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What is a key characteristic of the 'health-behaviour cycles' described in the text?
What is a key characteristic of the 'health-behaviour cycles' described in the text?
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What is a key requirement for the 'do-able starting point' of the 'health-behaviour cycles'?
What is a key requirement for the 'do-able starting point' of the 'health-behaviour cycles'?
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What is the role of telomeres in the 'health-behaviour cycles' described in the text?
What is the role of telomeres in the 'health-behaviour cycles' described in the text?
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What was the primary objective of the study described in the text?
What was the primary objective of the study described in the text?
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What was the purpose of the stratification in the study design?
What was the purpose of the stratification in the study design?
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Which of the following criteria was NOT used to screen and select participants for the study?
Which of the following criteria was NOT used to screen and select participants for the study?
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What was the approximate total duration of the meditation retreat for participants in the study?
What was the approximate total duration of the meditation retreat for participants in the study?
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What is the purpose of the psychological assessments at pre and post-retreat in the study?
What is the purpose of the psychological assessments at pre and post-retreat in the study?
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What was the main focus of Ryff’s Well-Being Scale used in the study?
What was the main focus of Ryff’s Well-Being Scale used in the study?
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What was the purpose of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in the study?
What was the purpose of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in the study?
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Why were post-retreat psychological assessments completed within 2 days of blood sample collection?
Why were post-retreat psychological assessments completed within 2 days of blood sample collection?
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What was the primary objective of the meetings held in mornings/evenings for guided meditations & discussion?
What was the primary objective of the meetings held in mornings/evenings for guided meditations & discussion?
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What is the purpose of 'randomization within strata' in research design?
What is the purpose of 'randomization within strata' in research design?
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How were control participants compensated in the study described in the text?
How were control participants compensated in the study described in the text?
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Why were control participants on-site for 5 days before PBMC collection?
Why were control participants on-site for 5 days before PBMC collection?
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What was the benefit of compensating retreat participants for participation in assessments at $20/hour?
What was the benefit of compensating retreat participants for participation in assessments at $20/hour?
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How does 'stratification' contribute to better equivalence between compared groups in research studies?
How does 'stratification' contribute to better equivalence between compared groups in research studies?
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What was the primary purpose of stratifying participants into the retreat and wait-list control groups?
What was the primary purpose of stratifying participants into the retreat and wait-list control groups?
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Which of the following criteria was NOT used to screen and select participants for the study?
Which of the following criteria was NOT used to screen and select participants for the study?
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What was the primary method used to assess the presence of psychiatric impairments in potential participants?
What was the primary method used to assess the presence of psychiatric impairments in potential participants?
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What was the approximate duration of the meditation retreat for participants in the experimental group?
What was the approximate duration of the meditation retreat for participants in the experimental group?
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What was the primary method used to match participants between the retreat and wait-list control groups?
What was the primary method used to match participants between the retreat and wait-list control groups?
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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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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.
