Benefits of meditation may be overstated
Researchers say practice plays no significant role in reducing aggression or increasing compassion
Meditation does not make you calmer or more compassionate, a study suggests. A review of existing research found a methodological flaw meaning increased compassion was only reported if the meditation teacher was also the author of the study, suggesting bias.
MEDITATION does not make you a better person, according to a study, despite widespread claims that it can make you calmer and more compassionate towards other people.
The research by scientists at Coventry University, Massey University in New Zealand, and Radboud University in Holland, reviewed 22 studies involving 1,685 people to investigate the effect of various types of meditation.
The practice, incorporating a range of spiritual or religious beliefs as a way of boosting the mind, body and spirit, has been touted as potentially able to make the world a better place.
Initially, research found that meditation did have an overall positive impact. However, further analysis revealed a core methodological flaw that greater levels of compassion increased only if the meditation teacher was also the author of the study, suggesting bias.
Dr Miguel Farias, from Coventry University’s Centre for Advances in Behavioural Science, said: “The popularisation of meditation techniques like mindfulness, despite being taught without religious beliefs, still seem to offer the hope of a better self and a better world to many.
“We did not find that meditation had any negative effects, however the good impacts can be compared to a placebo effect. A person may have the expectation of becoming a better person through meditating, and may believe that to be the case – but in fact this has not been proven.”
Initial analysis indicated that positive effects made people feel moderately more compassionate or empathetic, compared with those who had done no other new emotionally engaging activity.
However further analysis revealed it played no significant role in reducing aggression or prejudice or improving how socially-connected someone was.
Unexpectedly, the study, published in Scientific Reports, also revealed that the more positive results found for compassion had important methodological flaws. Overall, the results suggested that moderate improvements reported by psychologists in previous studies may be the result of flaws and bias.
Dr Farias said: “None of this, of course, invalidates Buddhism or other religions’ claims about the moral value and eventually life-changing potential of its beliefs and practices.
“But our research findings are a far cry from many popular claims made by meditators and some psychologists.”
He added: “If you want to meditate because you want some quiet time and time to relax, I see no issues, but the benefits it can have on a person’s character are limited. If you want to be more compassionate, go and volunteer at a charity.”
‘Our research findings are a far cry from many popular claims made by meditators and some psychologists’