New study shows Ugandan women reduced psychological distress and increased coping using Transcendental Meditation after COVID-19 lockdown

(Press-News.org) A peer reviewed, randomized controlled study with 199 women living in poverty in the city slums of Uganda was published today in Health Care for Women International. This study was conducted following two extended country-wide lockdowns in Uganda during the Covid 19 pandemic. Researchers found that the Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) technique reduced perceived stress, anger, and fatigue; increased self-efficacy; and improved sleep quality. TM helped these women to improve their mental and physical health and positively impacted their ability to cope in this crisis.

“The Covid lockdowns in Uganda, which resulted in food shortages, lack of employment, and increased domestic violence, exacerbated the already challenging circumstances faced by these women,” said lead author Leslee Goldstein, PhD, Senior Researcher, Center for Social Emotional Health and Consciousness at Maharishi International University. “Leaders at the Amazing Women Community Organization serving them reached out to African Women and Girls Organization (AWAGO), the TM women’s organization in Uganda, for their programs to help these women reduce stress, which exponentially increased during the lockdowns.”

Amazing Women Executive Member, Teopista Nambaziira explained why they reached out to AWAGO: “Women were losing hope, thinking there was no future for themselves. They were so fatigued, so stressed, they couldn’t sleep well. We decided to partner with AWAGO to see if TM could help them.”

Study design and outcomes 

This single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted with women ranging in ages from 16-73 (average age 34). Of the 199 participants, 40% had completed only primary school or lower, and only 53% were able to read and write. Most women (87%) were mothers, and 40% were single mothers. The study involved a TM group and a wait list (delayed start) control group with a pre-test at baseline and a post-test after three months. Researchers found statistically significant decreases in perceived stress, the primary outcome measure, as well as anger, and fatigue. Also found, was a significant improvement in sleep quality, and an increase in self-efficacy—self-beliefs in one’s ability to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life.

The control group participants were later given the opportunity to learn Transcendental Meditation, and all chose to do so. 

At eight months, a short-answer questionnaire was completed by 93 out of the original 96 TM group participants. Ninety-one women reported improvements in physical and mental health, all mothers reported improved relationships with children, and 85 participants reported improved relationships with neighbors. Nine of the 10 women who were asked if they had experienced domestic violence during the lockdowns reported that it decreased after starting TM.

Comments from research participants 

Improved physical and mental health 

“TM has helped me improve on my health in the way that I no longer fall sick like before.”

“I now have inner peace and self-control.”

“I feel confident with new situations.” 

Improved relationships with children

“At first I could get angry with children so fast, but now I take things easy so there is peace at home.”

“I used not to control my temper with them, but now I do.”

“We are now friendly and communicate so well, they even tell me I am the best mother now since I learned TM.”

Improved relationships with neighbors

“I used to fight with the neighbors, but now we are fine.”

“We now talk and laugh, which was not the case before meditation.”

“We now work together, which used not to happen.”

Decreased domestic violence

“I am more resilient.”

“I handle the situation better now.”

“I don’t respond to arguments like I used to.”

“The fact that now I have peace of mind, it’s hard for me to pick up a fight.”

Observations from community leaders

Community leaders’ observations supported our research findings. Janat Kivumbi, a Town Council leader who handles problems that arise in the community, reported that before TM trainings, a lot of family cases were arising on a daily basis. “This was due to stress amongst the women and a lot of anger, with fighting between husbands and wives as well as children. TM has enabled us to reduce the cases that I was receiving and recording in my office.”

Fausta Zadoch, local church leader and counselor in the community, reported improved mental health among the women. Before the women learned TM, her office regularly received many women and girls for counseling because of different issues. After the women joined AWAGO’s TM trainings, she received fewer numbers of women and girls seeking counseling. “TM has changed these women and girls. They are now stress free, and everything has improved spiritually, financially, and physically. We are grateful for this beautiful program.”

Teopista Nambaziira shared her observations regarding women’s improved ability to cope:

At first women didn’t think TM would help them, and they told TM teachers ‘just give us money.’ After learning TM everything changed. They could not believe how easy TM is and that they could experience such peace inside themselves. They are feeling better, sleeping better, getting along better, and have more energy. They are taking better care of themselves and their personal hygiene and are looking better and feeling good about themselves. Now they take everything easier and at the end of the day, they say ‘I am OK.’ 

Authors’ Conclusion

The authors conclude that TM offers these women an effective tool they can utilize for themselves by themselves each day to help them gain inner strength and outer energy and vitality. This empowers them with a newfound ability to handle their stressful situations, improving the way they feel about themselves, and impacting their social interactions at home and in the community. We see this growth in human potential that has been demonstrated, as a powerful foundation for transforming society toward greater equity and progress.

This research was supported by funding from the Rona and Jeffery Abramson Foundation, which is interested in improving the mental health and well-being of women in Uganda through Transcendental Meditation.

About the Transcendental Meditation Technique

Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural technique practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It is easily learned, and is not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. It does not involve concentration, control of the mind, contemplation, or monitoring of thoughts or breathing. The practice allows the active thinking mind to settle down to a state of inner calm. For more information visit https://www.tm.org.

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