Study calls for greater awareness of risks and benefits of meditation

People who meditate have unexpected or difficult experiences more commonly than previously thought, a new study has found, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of meditation’s effects.

Among a cross-sectional survey of 886 US adults, who were representative of the adult meditating population, the findings published in Clinical Psychological Science showed:

• 96% of participants surveyed reported an unusual experience (change in sense of self, incredible sense of bliss, loss of boundary between self/other)
• 58.4% reported an adverse effect (side effects that are unpleasant or result in harm or suffering, including physical, psychological, social)
• 9.1% reported functional impairment because of adverse effects

Lead author and director of the University of Melbourne’s Contemplative Studies Centre, Associate Professor Nicholas Van Dam, said that given meditation in the US is now as commonplace as mental-health-service access, understanding meditation-related adverse effects is critical.

“As many people seek out meditation as part of their health and well-being goals in the new year, the research is particularly timely,” he said.

“The takeaway is that while meditation offers benefits for mental and physical well-being to some people, this study demonstrates it can be actively harmful for others. Now that meditation programs are commonly delivered in primary schools, and GPs are frequently recommending meditation to patients, a more balanced perspective is needed.”

The lack of regulation in the meditation industry, including apps and online offerings, was also of particular concern, Associate Professor Van Dam said.

“Meditation use is comparable with mental-health services use, and yet it remains a largely unregulated industry, especially considering those who engage via apps,” he said. “Many think there are no risks and have been led to believe that a failed practice is their own fault, which simply isn’t true.

“As meditation increasingly becomes part of the growing modern wellness culture, this research underscores the importance of developing informed approaches to its practice and offering appropriate guidance and support for those who may encounter challenges.”