The study attempted to assess whether test anxiety could be successfully managed using an expressive writing or meditation anxiety reduction technique, and whether these results would be maintained one week following the manipulation. Three administrations of the Test Anxiety Inventory were collected one week before, directly after, and one week following the assignment of participants to one of three study test conditions: meditation, expressive writing, and a control (narrative account of the previous day’s events). The students were given a 24-question GRE practice exam to simulate a high-stakes test environment. Repeated measures ANOVA and ANCOVA were performed to test the effectiveness of the intervention. Relationships between GPA, procrastination, test-preparedness, and test anxiety were examined, as were the correlations among depression, worry, and test anxiety. The results of the main and exploratory analyses did not indicate any significant differences across the three conditions. Suggestions for future research include incorporating a more robust version of the treatment, recruiting more participants reporting high anxiety at baseline, and utilizing test conditions in which the participants are more invested. / text

published_or_final_version / Buddhist Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Although meditation-based interventions have been associated with improvement in depressive symptoms and prevention of relapse, the physiological mechanisms of meditation's therapeutic effects are unknown. At the same time, a growing body of literature has shown that meditation has profound effects on numerous physiological systems that are involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The first paper reviews many of the physiological abnormalities found in depression and the reversal or normalization of these same systems by meditation. The paper includes 1) a review of the physiological concomitants of depression, 2) a description of mindfulness meditation and its effects on mood disturbance, 3) the physiological effects of mindfulness and other related forms of meditation, and 4) suggestions for future research.The second paper summarizes the results of a randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation training on one of the previously identified candidate systems: sleep, as measured by overnight polysomnographic sleep studies as well as subjective reports (sleep diaries). The results indicate that mindfulness has an arousing effect on objectively measured sleep that corresponds with subjectively reported improvements in mood and sleep. This pattern is similar to the one observed in responders to antidepressant medications.

Chronic pain is estimated to affect approximately 29% of the Canadian population and causes far-reaching lifestyle changes and difficulties that have personal, social, and economic impact. Managing pain is a complex task that recently has been recognized as requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Significant amounts of research have been conducted to understand the biological and cognitive bases of pain; and yet, spiritual aspects of chronic pain have received less attention. Despite this, spirituality remains an important coping strategy as reported by individuals managing chronic health conditions. Some interventions in use today have spiritual roots; however, western medical treatments of pain often do not recognize or utilize spirituality on a regular basis. Utilizing one such intervention, namely mindfulness meditation (MM), this study attempted to understand the role that MM plays in the management of chronic pain and the development of spirituality. This study measured self-reported pain, anxiety, depression, and spirituality in individuals engaged in an 8-week group process in which individuals were provided chronic pain related psycho-education either with MM or without. A repeated measures model was utilized to measure changes that occurred in reported pain experiences (using the McGill Pain Questionnaire) and in spirituality (using the Spiritual Assessment Scale ) to determine if changes could be associated with the teaching of MM. Differences in Affective pain ratings were observed and correlations between pain ratings and spirituality discussed. Reasons for the lack of significant findings, including sample size, power, and measures are discussed.

Chronic pain is estimated to affect approximately 29% of the Canadian population and causes far-reaching lifestyle changes and difficulties that have personal, social, and economic impact. Managing pain is a complex task that recently has been recognized as requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Significant amounts of research have been conducted to understand the biological and cognitive bases of pain; and yet, spiritual aspects of chronic pain have received less attention. Despite this, spirituality remains an important coping strategy as reported by individuals managing chronic health conditions. Some interventions in use today have spiritual roots; however, western medical treatments of pain often do not recognize or utilize spirituality on a regular basis. Utilizing one such intervention, namely mindfulness meditation (MM), this study attempted to understand the role that MM plays in the management of chronic pain and the development of spirituality. This study measured self-reported pain, anxiety, depression, and spirituality in individuals engaged in an 8-week group process in which individuals were provided chronic pain related psycho-education either with MM or without. A repeated measures model was utilized to measure changes that occurred in reported pain experiences (using the McGill Pain Questionnaire) and in spirituality (using the Spiritual Assessment Scale ) to determine if changes could be associated with the teaching of MM. Differences in Affective pain ratings were observed and correlations between pain ratings and spirituality discussed. Reasons for the lack of significant findings, including sample size, power, and measures are discussed.

Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, Depart of Anatomy and Histology, 1981.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 1990. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-203).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1993. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-145).

Thesis (M.C.S.)--Regent College, Vancouver, BC, 1998. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-163).