Workplace Stress, Burnout & Performance
1. Full Citation
Elder C, Nidich S, Moriarty F, Nidich R. (2014). Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Employee Stress, Depression, and Burnout: A Randomized Controlled Study. The Permanente Journal, 18(1), 19–23. DOI: 10.7812/TPP/13-102.
Reference Information
Journal: The Permanente Journal
Year: 2014
Study Code: B-01
DOI: 10.7812/TPP/13-102
Level of Evidence: Randomised Controlled Trial
Peer Reviewed: Yes
2. Research Question
Among staff at one residential therapeutic school, did four months of Transcendental Meditation reduce perceived stress, depressive symptoms and burnout compared with a wait-list control group?
3. Participants
- Forty teachers and support staff at a therapeutic school participated.
4. Method
Randomised controlled trial comparing employees who learned Transcendental Meditation with a wait-list control group over four months.
5. Key Findings
Compared with the wait-list control group, staff assigned to Transcendental Meditation showed statistically significant reductions in:
- perceived stress (p < 0.001)
- depressive symptoms measured by the Mental Health Inventory-5 (p = 0.013)
- overall teacher burnout (p = 0.018)
The reported effects ranged from moderate to large, with the largest effect found for perceived stress. The study measured psychological distress and burnout; it did not directly measure employee performance.
6. Practical Implications
This randomised study provides preliminary evidence that Transcendental Meditation may help reduce perceived stress, depressive symptoms and burnout among staff in the therapeutic-school setting studied.
These findings may be relevant to organisations considering approaches to employee wellbeing. However, the study does not establish effects on productivity, concentration, decision-making, absenteeism, job satisfaction, leadership or teamwork, because those outcomes were not directly measured. Replication in larger and more varied workplaces is needed.
7. Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Peer-reviewed randomised controlled design.
- Used established measures of perceived stress, depressive symptoms and burnout.
- Included a comparison with a wait-list control group over four months.
Limitations
- The sample was small: 40 staff were randomised and 36 were included in the reported outcome analysis.
- Participants came from one therapeutic school, limiting generalisation to other occupations and organisations.
- The control group was wait-listed rather than receiving an active comparison intervention, and participants knew which group they were in.
- Outcomes were self-reported, and workplace performance was not directly measured.
- Larger independent studies with longer follow-up would strengthen the evidence.
8. Related Topics
Primary
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