Chanting meditation improves mood and social cohesion

2023

Chanting, an ancient ritual practiced in diverse cultures and traditions worldwide, has typically been employed for meditation, healing, self-awareness, and psychological growth. However, there is little understanding of the physiological and psychological benefits of chanting, and how vocalization might contribute to such effects. This study aimed to determine whether 12-minutes of group chanting, through vocal or silent repetition of the sound "om," would reduce stress and anxiety, while increasing feelings of social connection, and whether vocal chanting would yield stronger effects. Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to vocal or silent group chanting conditions. Saliva samples were collected before and after chanting to assess cortisol levels, while self-report measures included the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Adapted Self-Report Altruism Scale (including additional items on cross-cultural altruism). Following chanting, participants also provided a written description of their experiences. Both vocal and silent chanting resulted in significant decreases in cortisol levels and self-reported anxiety. The reduction in cortisol was similar for vocal and silent chanting, but self-reported anxiety decreased more following vocal chanting. Altruism scores increased following both vocal and silent chanting. However, there was no evidence of altruistic tendencies extending toward people from a culture other than one's own. Results are discussed in relation to the phenomenology of chanting, and to current theory and evidence on the physiological and psychological effects of chanting and singing.

Brain Sciences

Chanting is practiced in many religious and secular traditions and involves rhythmic vocalization or mental repetition of a sound or phrase. This study examined how chanting relates to cognitive function, altered states, and quality of life across a wide range of traditions. A global survey was used to assess experiences during chanting including flow states, mystical experiences, mindfulness, and mind wandering. Further, attributes of chanting were assessed to determine their association with altered states and cognitive benefits, and whether psychological correlates of chanting are associated with quality of life. Responses were analyzed from 456 English speaking participants who regularly chant across 32 countries and various chanting traditions. Results revealed that different aspects of chanting were associated with distinctive experiential outcomes. Stronger intentionality (devotion, intention, sound) and higher chanting engagement (experience, practice duration, regularity) w...

International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods

The prevalence of academic stress among the undergraduate engineering students in India is very serious till date. High academic stress has a negative impact on academic performance, and will also result in internet addiction, insufficient sleeping time and mental health problems. The objective of this study is to examine effectiveness of OM-chanting on psychological parameters among engineering students. 36 healthy engineering students (having age range: 18 to 25 years) who were studying in a Kolkata-based engineering college in India were randomly chosen. They received OM-chanting stimulation. Therapeutic dose: Session: once a day, 20 minutes duration at morning time: 6: 15-7: 00 am. By using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) the psychological variables of participants were carefully measured before OM-chanting intervention and these values were also treated as values obtained at pre-intervention time (i.e., at 0 day) only. After this procedure, the values of psychological at 15 days, 30 days, 45 days, 60 days, 75 days 90 days, 105 days, 120 days and 135 days respectively were also examined according to our experimental design. A time dependent decrease in psychological parameters viz. depression, anxiety and stress scores with time was seen among the engineering college student. This study highlighted that OM chanting stimulation effectively reduces the depression, anxiety and stress levels of engineering college students with time. Therefore, this study may add an important dimension to the emerging area of mental health and wellbeing of engineering college students

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2016

Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. As compared with premeditation , following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation (P < .001). Feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants (P < .001). Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation.

Background: According to Upanishads, Om is the name or symbol of God. It is the combination of three letters, namely, A, U, and M and it is the syllable of the past, the present, and the future. Om is the force behind all thoughts and chanting or thinking about Om will cause quiet mental state. Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of Om chanting on depression, anxiety, stress and cognition in elderly women with hypertension. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 Elder women (age 50–60 years) with diagnosed hypertension were included in the present study after obtaining written, voluntary, informed consent. Participants with blood pressure values of 120–179/≤109 mmHg were enrolled. After selection of the participants, baseline values were recorded and they were randomly assigned into two groups randomly by random numbers generated by computer. Intervention group participants performed Om chanting once in a day at 7:30 daily at Sattva cultural space for six months under the supervision of yoga teacher. Results: Results are presented in Table 1 and 2. Pre intervention depression, anxiety, stress and MMSE scores and blood pressure and pulse rate were not significant between the groups. However, following by six months of Om chanting, systolic and diastolic pressure, pulse rate, depression, anxiety, stress decreased significantly. MMSE scores improved significantly followed by Om chanting. Conclusion: The practice of Om chanting in a traditional way can be used as one of the powerful means in calming down the mind, enhancing memory. We recommend further detailed studies for further supporting traditional Om chanting and to recommend it to include in our daily life style.

International Journal of Research in Ayurveda & Pharmacy, 2017

Practicing "OM" chanting has been reported to reduce stress levels and improve cognitive functions. Objective of the study was to observe beneficial effects of "OM" chanting on perceived stress and auditory and visual reaction time in private school teachers. 8 female school teachers of aged 27-40 years were part of this study after obtaining informed consent. Participants served as self-controls. After adequate training sessions, participants performed Om chanting once in a day at 6:00 am daily at meditation hall in school premises for 12 weeks under the supervision of yoga teacher. Perceived stress was recorded by using perceived stress scale. Auditory and visual reaction time was recorded by auditory and visual reaction time apparatus manufactured by Anand Agencies, Pune. We have observed significant decrease (P<0.05) in stress and significant improvement (P<0.05) in both auditory and visual reaction times in the participants followed by OM chanting. Our study provides further evidence for beneficial effects of OM chanting. We recommend Practicing OM chanting for better stress management and cognitive functions.

Introduction: Scientific evidence has established the benefits of meditation and sound vibrations on emotional and physiological health. Aim of the Study: The study explored changes in mood and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) after HSB Sound Bath Meditation on healthy individuals. The objectives of the study were to understand if a 40-minute-long seated HSB Sound Bath Meditation results in changes (a) in mood measured via Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Abbreviated Profile of Mood States (POMS) Survey and (b) in physiological parameters, as measured by HRV. Methods: The psychological parameters were measured with PANAS (N=77) and Abbreviated POMS, (N=17).

International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research

Introduction Scientific evidence has demonstrated the psychological and physiological benefits of meditation. Sound vibrations also improve emotional wellbeing while enhancing the physiological parameters. There is an opportunity to explore the psychological and physiological benefits of Himalayan Singing Bowls (HSB) sound bath meditation, i.e. meditation assisted with sound vibrations. Aim of the Study The study explored changes in mood and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters after a HSB Sound Bath Meditation on healthy individuals. The primary objectives of the study were to understand if a 40 minute long seated HSB Sound Bath Meditation results in significant improvement (a) in positive affect and negative affect, as measured by Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and (b) in physiological parameters, as measured by Heart Rate Variability. The secondary objective of the study was to understand the impact on various moods as measured by Profile Of Mood States (POMS) Surv...

European Journal of Integrative Medicine

Introduction: Meditation has attracted increased attention in the literature as a non-pharmacological strategy to foster positive mental health amongst the general population. This systematic review aims to summarise studies of mantra meditation (which includes Transcendental Meditation, TM ®) to understand its potential value in fostering positive mental health and alleviating negative affectivity in non-clinical populations. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for English language, peer-reviewed empirical studies (published between 1970 and 2018) that related to mantra meditation, reported at least one outcome of mental health and utilised healthy, non-clinical populations. Studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using the Quality Appraisal Tool for Quantitative Studies (QATQS). Data abstraction was facilitated by a tailored data extraction form. Results: A total of 2171 records were identified, of which 37 were included in this review. Studies report on outcomes of anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, anger and psychological distress. 78% of studies utilised the TM programme. Findings indicate that mantra meditation interventions may have minimal to moderate beneficial effects on mental health in general populations. Over 90% of studies were considered to be of weak quality. Conclusions: There is some evidence that mantra meditation can improve mental health and negative affectivity in non-clinical populations, however poor study quality may hinder the extent to which one can be certain about the accuracy of these findings. Mantra meditation may be considered a useful adjunct to workplace wellbeing initiatives or educational programmes. Further studies of higher quality that incorporate cost-effectiveness analyses are warranted.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

Background: Meditation is defined as a form of cognitive training that aims to improve attentional and emotional self-regulation. This systematic review aims to evaluate the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness and safety of mantra-based meditation techniques (MBM), in comparison to passive or active controls, or other active treatment, for the management of mental health symptoms. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases were consulted up to April 2021. Randomised controlled trials regarding meditation techniques mainly based on the repetition of mantras, such as transcendental meditation or others, were included. Results: MBM, compared to control conditions, was found to produce significant small-to-moderate effect sizes in the reduction of anxiety (g = −0.46, IC95%: −0.60, −0.32; I2 = 33%), depression (g = −0.33, 95% CI: −0.48, −0.19; I2 = 12%), stress (g = −0.45, 95% CI: −0.65, −0.24; I2 = 46%), post-traumatic stress (g = −0.59, 95% CI: −0...