Scientific Research Database
Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs
As taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
677 papers · 1,773 findings · 200 journals · 1970–2024
168 papers found
- 2024· Medicina· Research ReviewOrme-Johnson, David W.; Barnes, Vernon A.; Rees, Brian; Tobin, Jean; Walton, Kenneth G. (2024). Effectiveness of meditation techniques in treating post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicina, 60(12), 2050.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of meditation techniques for post-traumatic stress disorder, comparing effect sizes across meditation categories.
- Review Paper—Health: Across randomized controlled trials, all categories of meditation significantly reduced PTSD symptoms; Transcendental Meditation showed the largest effect (Hedges' g = −1.13), significantly greater than mindfulness-based stress reduction (−0.52) and other approaches, with no serious adverse effects reported; the authors recommend a Phase 3 clinical trial.
- 2022· World Journal of Social Science· EmpiricalOrme-Johnson, David W.; Cavanaugh, Kenneth L.; Dillbeck, Michael C.; Goodman, Rachel S. (2022). Field-effects of consciousness: A seventeen-year study of the effects of group practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs on reducing U.S. stress. World Journal of Social Science, 9(2).
Seventeen-year time-series study of eight U.S. national stress indicators in relation to the size of the group practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs.
- Sociological—Reduced Crime: Eight U.S. national stress indicators—including crime, infant mortality, drug-related deaths and fatal accidents—improved while the TM and TM-Sidhi group exceeded the required threshold and worsened when the group shrank (p's < .0001).
- 2022· Studies in Asian Social Science· EmpiricalCavanaugh, Kenneth L.; Dillbeck, Michael C.; Orme-Johnson, David W. (2022). Evaluating a field theory of consciousness and reduction in U.S. homicide: Analysis of monthly data for 2007–2016. Studies in Asian Social Science, 8(1).
Time-series analysis of monthly U.S. homicide trends from 2007 to 2016 in relation to the size of the group practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs at Maharishi International University.
- Sociological—Reduced Violent Conflict: During 2007–2011, when the U.S. group of TM and TM-Sidhi practitioners exceeded the square-root-of-one-percent threshold, monthly U.S. homicide trends improved significantly (p < .0001); when the group fell below the threshold in 2012–2016, homicide rates rose.
- 2021· Educación· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee C.; Ortiz Cabrejos, Javier; Bonshek, Anna (2021). Health and school performance: An exploratory quantitative study of school children in Huay-Huay, Perú. Educación, 30(59), 65–89.
Exploratory quantitative survey of primary and secondary students in Huay-Huay, Perú, using a 47-question instrument on self-reported health and school performance in relation to Transcendental Meditation practice.
- Health—General: Primary and secondary students in Huay-Huay, Perú, completed a 47-question survey about their experience with Transcendental Meditation; a majority rated the practice as mostly beneficial to physical, cognitive and emotional health.
- Academic Performance: Students also reported benefits for school performance, with stronger reported effects among those practicing more regularly.
- Academic Performance: Gender and grade level did not appear to influence the outcomes; the self-report design has no comparison group.
- 2021· Journal of Latinos and Education· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee C.; Ortiz Cabrejos, Javier; Bonshek, Anna (2021). Aymara childrens' practice of Transcendental Meditation in Perú: A learning history model of parent and teacher perceptions. Journal of Latinos and Education.
Qualitative learning-history study using semi-structured interviews with parents and teachers in Puno, Perú, to understand perceptions of Aymara children's practice of Transcendental Meditation.
- Self Development: Semi-structured interviews with parents and teachers in Puno, Perú, using a learning-history approach, identified fifteen themes in children's practice of Transcendental Meditation.
- Academic Performance: Parents and teachers linked the practice to changes in academic performance, emotional flexibility, empathy and responsibility.
- 2020· Warmadewa Medical Journal· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee C.; Bonshek, Anna (2020). A strategy for improving the functional health and well-being of Cambodian university faculty and staff. Warmadewa Medical Journal, 5(1), 30–47.
Concurrent quasi-experimental mixed-methods study of Transcendental Meditation practice by faculty and staff at three regional Cambodian universities, examining physical, mental and social health. A modified version of a study previously published in ASEAN Journal of Education.
- Organizational Performance and Well-Being: A concurrent quasi-experimental mixed-methods study examined Transcendental Meditation practice by faculty and staff at three regional Cambodian universities.
- Psychological Health: Converging quantitative and qualitative data suggest benefits for the physical, mental and social health of university personnel.
- Organizational Performance and Well-Being: The authors note the design cannot rule out expectation, attention or selection effects. This is a modified version of a study previously published in ASEAN Journal of Education.
- 2020· Revista de Ciências da Saúde· Empiricalde Oliveira, Daniel Vicentini; Bertolini, Sônia Maria Marques Gomes; Chatalov, Ellis Gilson; Franco, Maura Fernandes; de Lima, Maria do Carmo Correia; Freire, Gabriel Lucas Morais; de Oliveira, Rogéria Vicentini; Nascimento Júnior, José Roberto Andrade do (2020). Factors associated with transcendental meditation practice in older people. Revista de Ciências da Saúde, 10(3), 85–91.
Cross-sectional comparison of 113 older adults in Brazil—60 Transcendental Meditation practitioners and 53 non-practitioners—examining sociodemographic and health factors associated with the practice.
- Health—Aging: In a cross-sectional comparison of 113 older adults in Brazil, the 60 TM practitioners reported better self-perceived health than the 53 non-practitioners (91.7% vs 77.4% good or excellent).
- Health—General: Practitioners reported less hospitalization in the previous semester than non-practitioners (5% vs 24.5%).
- Health—Aging: Practitioners were younger and more educated on average, and the cross-sectional design cannot establish that TM caused the differences.
- 2020· International Journal of Indian Psychology· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee C.; Ortiz Cabrejos, Javier; Bonshek, Anna (2020). Long-term meditation practice in Puno, Perú: A five-level exploratory model of theory and research. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 8(3), DIP 18.01.086/20200803.
Qualitative study of six long-term Aymara practitioners of Transcendental Meditation in Puno, Perú (average 15 years of practice), comparing their reported experiences with international research findings across five levels.
- Self Development: Six long-term Aymara practitioners in Puno (average 15 years of practice) reported experiences organized into a five-level model: consciousness, mental, physical, behavioral and sociocultural.
- Quality of Life: The reported experiences of long-term meditators in Puno were largely consistent with prior international research findings.
- Quality of Life: Participants described a strengthened connection to their Aymara culture, an under-represented group in the published literature.
- 2020· Professional School Counseling· EmpiricalBleasdale, Jane E.; Peterson, Margaret C.; Nidich, Sanford (2020). Effect of meditation on social/emotional well-being in a high-performing high school. Professional School Counseling, 23(1), 1–8.
Randomized controlled trial of 52 students at a high-performing public high school, comparing four months of twice-daily Transcendental Meditation with a silent-reading active control.
- Psychological Health: Fifty-two students at a high-performing high school were randomized to Transcendental Meditation or a silent-reading control, practiced twice daily over four months.
- Psychological Health: The TM group showed significant reductions in perceived stress, anxiety, anger and depression compared with the control group.
- Social Behavior: Fatigue and self-esteem changes favored TM but did not reach conventional significance (p = .075 and p = .054).
- 2020· Heliyon· EmpiricalMovahed, Ali Heydari; Sabouhi, Fakhri; Mohammadpourhodki, Reza; Mahdavi, Sepideh; Goudarzian, Sima; Amerian, Malihe; Mohtashami, Mona; Kheiri, Mansoure; Imeni, Malihe (2020). Investigating the effect of transcendental meditation on spiritual wellbeing of Type-2 diabetic amputees: A clinical trial study. Heliyon, 6(12), e05567.
Clinical trial randomizing 54 Type-2 diabetic amputees to three Transcendental Meditation sessions or a control condition, measuring spiritual well-being before and after. Post-intervention scores did not favor the TM group.
- Psychological Health: Fifty-four Type-2 diabetic amputees were randomized to three Transcendental Meditation sessions or a control condition, with spiritual well-being measured before and after.
- Psychological Health: Post-intervention spiritual well-being scores were lower in the TM group than in the control group (88.40 vs 97.82), so the study does not show a TM benefit.
- Health—General: The intervention was limited to three instructional sessions, much briefer than standard TM training, which limits comparability with other trials.
- 2019· Studies in Asian Social Science· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee C.; Cavanaugh, Kenneth L. (2019). Socio-political violence in Cambodia between 1990 and 2008: An explanatory mixed methods study of social coherence. Studies in Asian Social Science, 6(2), 1–45.
Mixed-methods historical study combined news-coded time series with document analysis, comparing a 1990–1992 baseline with 1993–2008 after group practice began at MVU. Coincident political changes and reporting variation complicate causal attribution.
- Sociological—Reduced Violent Conflict: News-coded analyses reported a downward shift in socio-political violence after group practice began in 1993.
- Sociological—Reduced Crime: Document analysis reported declines in other violence and crime during the impact-assessment period.
- 2019· ASEAN Journal of Education· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee; Bonshek, Anna; Pau, Maria (2019). Maharishi Vedic University in Cambodia: A study of three mature-age graduates. ASEAN Journal of Education, 5(1), 9–23.
Retrospective qualitative case study of three graduates describes experiences of broader Vedic university education, including TM. Three accounts do not establish general effects or isolate the influence of TM.
- Self Development: Graduates described increased confidence, self-sufficiency and perceived well-being.
- Quality of Life: Graduates described health/lifestyle changes and reduced stress.
- Organizational Performance and Well-Being: Accounts described contributions to employment, business and community life.
- 2018· Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute· Research ReviewOrme-Johnson, David W.; Fergusson, Lee (2018). Global impact of the Maharishi Effect from 1974 to 2017: Theory and research. Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute, 8, 13–79.
Review of 43 years of Maharishi-effect theory and research, covering 1974–2017; not a new intervention trial.
- Review Paper—Society: Reviews studies reporting associations between TM/TM-Sidhi group practice and reduced societal conflict and improved quality of life.
- 2017· Journal of Health and Environmental Research· TheoreticalFergusson, Lee; Wells, Geoffrey; Kettle, David (2017). Principles and Practice of Sustainability in Maharishi Vedic Science. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 3(3-1), 1–15.
Theoretical review of Vedic approaches to sustainability, agriculture, architecture and living in harmony with nature; not a new empirical trial.
- Theoretical papers—Maharishi Vedic Science: Presents principles of harmony with nature and the proposed relevance of Vedic knowledge to sustainability.
- Theoretical papers—Maharishi Vedic Science: Discusses applications including Vedic organic agriculture and Vāstu architecture as potential contributions to a sustainable future.
- 2017· International Journal of Society, Culture & Language· TheoreticalFergusson, Lee; Kettle, David; Wells, Geoffrey (2017). Indigenous Accounts of Environmental Stewardship in Light of the Theory and Language of Maharishi Vedic Science. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 5(1).
Theoretical comparison of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori environmental stewardship with the Vedic tradition. No new TM intervention is tested.
- Theoretical papers—Maharishi Vedic Science: Surveys Indigenous traditions of sustainable and ethical living and compares them with Vedic approaches to environmental stewardship.
- Theoretical papers—Maharishi Vedic Science: Explores natural law, tradition, language and knowledge as conceptual foundations for sustainability.
- 2017· Environment, Development and Sustainability· TheoreticalFergusson, Lee; Wells, Geoffrey; Kettle, David (2017). The personal, social and environmental sustainability of Jainism in light of Maharishi Vedic Science. Environment, Development and Sustainability, online publication.
Comparative theoretical essay on sustainability principles in Jainism and Maharishi Vedic Science. Uses existing literature, not a new intervention study.
- Theoretical papers—Maharishi Vedic Science: Relates Jain ecological ethics, nonviolence and conservation to Vedic accounts of unity between human life and nature.
- Theoretical papers—Maharishi Vedic Science: Proposes that these traditions may contribute to personal, social and environmental sustainability.
- 2017· International Journal of Current Research· Research ReviewFergusson, Lee (2017). An annotated historical survey of 84 publications by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi from 1957–2015. International Journal of Current Research, 9(2), 47009–47054.
Annotated historical catalog of 84 documents by Maharishi, with an index and bibliography of 419 related third-party publications; a resource for scholarship rather than an empirical TM trial.
- Theoretical Paper—Consciousness: Organizes Maharishi’s published writings from 1957–2015 by themes and terms to support systematic study of Maharishi Vedic Science.
- Theoretical Paper—Consciousness: Connects the catalog with related publications across multiple academic fields.
- 2017· Complementary Therapies in Medicine· Research ReviewOoi, Soo Liang; Giovino, Melisa; Pak, Sok Cheon (2017). Transcendental meditation for lowering blood pressure: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 34, 26–34.
Overview of eight systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized trials, assessing blood-pressure outcomes and review quality.
- Health—Cardiovascular: The review described average reductions of approximately 4 mm Hg systolic and 2 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure, comparable to some lifestyle measures.
- Health—Cardiovascular: Evidence generally strengthened over time, but findings differed between reviews and many trials had potential bias; average review quality was fair.
- 2016· Journal of Indian Education· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee (2016). Vedic Science-based Education, Poverty Removal and Social Well-being: A Case History of Cambodia from 1980 to 2015. Journal of Indian Education, 41(4), 16–45.
Descriptive case history using social impact assessment of education, health and economic indicators in Cambodia, 1980–2015. Associations with Vedic Science-based programs do not establish their causal contribution. An expanded version appears in the Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute.
- Sociological—Improved Economy: Describes Cambodia’s economic recovery and poverty reduction alongside Vedic Science-based education and social programs, without a controlled causal comparison.
- Sociological—Improved Quality of Life: Examines education and health developments following social renewal initiatives in 1992 and the opening of Maharishi Vedic University in 1993.
- Review Paper—Education: Summarizes prior Cambodian student studies reporting improved intelligence and mental and general health, rather than presenting a new randomized student trial.
- 2016· Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute· EmpiricalFergusson, Lee (2016). The Impact of Maharishi Vedic University on Cambodian Economic and Social Indicators from 1980 to 2015. Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute, 2, 77–135.
Descriptive case history using social impact assessment of education, health and economic indicators in Cambodia, 1980–2015. Associations with Vedic Science-based programs do not establish their causal contribution. This is the expanded version of the Journal of Indian Education paper.
- Sociological—Improved Economy: Describes Cambodia’s economic recovery and poverty reduction alongside Vedic Science-based education and social programs, without a controlled causal comparison.
- Sociological—Improved Quality of Life: Examines education and health developments following social renewal initiatives in 1992 and the opening of Maharishi Vedic University in 1993.
- Review Paper—Education: Summarizes prior Cambodian student studies reporting improved intelligence and mental and general health, rather than presenting a new randomized student trial.