Scientific studies and peer-reviewed research on meditation and mental health effects for readers seeking evidence-based information.
Meditation needs more research: study finds 25% suffer unpleasant experiences
A study led by researchers at University College London and published in PLOS ONE surveyed 1,232 people with at least two months’ meditation experience to explore the prevalence of challenging psychological experiences linked to meditation. Around 25.6% of respondents reported having had a “particularly unpleasant” experience they believed was related to their practice, such as anxiety, fear, distorted emotions or thoughts, or changes in their sense of self or the world.
The survey found that such experiences were reported more frequently by those who had attended meditation retreats, those practising only deconstructive forms of meditation (for example Vipassana or certain Zen practices), men, individuals without a religious belief, and those with higher levels of repetitive negative thinking. Women and participants with a religious belief were less likely to report these experiences.
The authors noted that most research to date has focused on the benefits of meditation and argued that a broader understanding of its full range of effects is needed. They also emphasised that the study does not establish that meditation caused these experiences. The research relied on a single self-report question, did not assess pre-existing mental health conditions, and used a cross-sectional design, meaning it cannot determine cause and effect.
The survey found that such experiences were reported more frequently by those who had attended meditation retreats, those practising only deconstructive forms of meditation (for example Vipassana or certain Zen practices), men, individuals without a religious belief, and those with higher levels of repetitive negative thinking. Women and participants with a religious belief were less likely to report these experiences.
The authors noted that most research to date has focused on the benefits of meditation and argued that a broader understanding of its full range of effects is needed. They also emphasised that the study does not establish that meditation caused these experiences. The research relied on a single self-report question, did not assess pre-existing mental health conditions, and used a cross-sectional design, meaning it cannot determine cause and effect.