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| SHORT COMMUNICATION |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 31
| Issue : 2 | Page : 364-366 |
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Role of meditation in resilience and hope among students
Abha Singh1, Ritu Modi2
1 Department of Psychology, P.P.N. College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
2 Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
| Date of Submission | 19-Aug-2021 |
| Date of Acceptance | 03-Feb-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 30-Aug-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ritu Modi
Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj - 211 002, Uttar Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_183_21
 Abstract | | |
Context: Rising stress levels for students in the current era due to challenges such as competition and pressure to succeed are a cause for concern. Resilience and hope are two powerful weapons in the fight against these stress-related issues. Aim: The study's objective was to explore the role of goal meditation on resilience and hope among students. Materials and Methods: The study participants comprised college students aged 22–24 years from Kanpur, U.P., India. The purposive sampling method was used to draw samples. A pre‒post study design was used to test the role of meditation in resilience and hope, for which post data were collected 6 months after the imposition of intervention. Statistical Analysis: The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was employed to analyze data. Results: Results indicated that resilience and hope increased in pre-and post-int ervention measures, and there is a positive relationship between resilience and hope. Conclusion: Based on these results, it was inferred that goal meditation effectively enhances resilience and hope among students.
Keywords: Goal meditation, hope, intervention, pre and post, resilience
How to cite this article:
Singh A, Modi R. Role of meditation in resilience and hope among students. Ind Psychiatry J 2022;31:364-6 |
Meditation is an ancient art and science that aims to achieve a highly relaxed body and mind. It has been stated that a person would experience peace and happiness after entering a meditative state. Unfortunately, students in India are facing constant stress, which creates negativity and depression. Along with family problems, students face many challenges such as heavy syllabus, cutthroat competition, parental expectations, economic crisis, and less patience. All these things may create a kind of restlessness and aggression. Therefore, meditation has a significant role in obtaining students' mental health, resilience, hope, and overall well-being.
The research found that mediation programs are helping college students in reduction of stress and anxiety levels.[1] In this study, a meditation technique specifically designed to attain goals through this intervention has been called goal meditation. Focusing the mind on a single point or goal may enhance positive energy to achieve the particular aim. Through goal meditation, people can improve their resilience and hope toward their goals. Hope and resilience are essential personality traits that can work as a buffer against stress or any adversity.
The hope involves conceptualizing goals and expecting to develop a plan and follow through to meet these goals.[2] Resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with adversity, conflicts, failure, or even positive events. It is the ability to bounce back from complex life events and grow in the face of adverse life experiences.[3]
The primary objective of the present study is to assess the effect of goal meditation on resilience and hope in pre and post analysis among students.
| Materials and Methods | |  |
Study design
A pre‒post design was used to examine the effect of goal meditation as an intervention technique on resilience and hope among students.
Participants
The sample comprised 16 female students of the final year aged 22–24 years from the middle-income group of master's programs from Kanpur, U. P. India. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the potential participants.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
In this study, all the students are in the same age group and class. No other participants were included, and no discrepancy in educational level and no health issues among participants.
Measurements
Connor‒Davidson resilience scale
This scale was developed by Connor and Davidson.[4] The scale comprises 25 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from range from 0 “not true at all” to 4 “true nearly all the time.” Cronbach's α for the scale was. 89.
Adult hope scale
A 12-item measure of a respondent's level of hope was developed by Snyder et al.[5] In particular, the scale is divided into two subscales that comprise Snyder's cognitive model of hope: (1) agency (i.e., goal-directed energy) and (2) pathways (i.e., planning to accomplish goals). Each item is answered using an 8-point Likert-type scale ranging from “definitely false” to “definitely true.” Cronbach's α of this scale was. 80.
Intervention
In this study, goal meditation was used as an intervention technique. The following instructions were given to the participants for intervention.
- Be seated in Gyan Mudra's position and chant the shanti mantra (Sarve bhavantu sukhinah bhaag-bhavet) once.
- Take a three deep breath and chant “O. M.”
- Visualize the goal and perceive the achievement of that goal with closed eyes and a focused mind. Believe that you can accomplish your goal and feel that you have a strong conviction to achieve your desired goal one day.
- Take a deep breath, rub the palms of the hands, put them on the face, and then open your eyes slowly.
Procedure
The intervention was administered for 6 months by one of the investigators of this research (August 1, 2018, to January 31, 2019). Participants' informed consent was taken before the data collection. Resilience and hope scales were used in pre and post testing. Each session (5–7 min approximately) was taken before the commencement of formal classes.
Data analysis
The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Spearman correlation method were used to analyzing the data.
| Results and Discussion | | |
A Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that the resilience post-test ranks were statistically significantly higher than the resilience pre-test ranks, Z = 3.107, P < 0.002. Hope agency post-test ranks were statistically significantly higher than the hope agency pre-test ranks, Z = 3.193, P < 0.001. Hope pathway post-test ranks were statistically significantly higher than the hope pathway pre-test ranks, Z = 2.231, P < 0.026. These results indicate that goal meditation significantly affects resilience and hope. A previous study supports that meditation can increase hope via stress reduction.[6] After 6 months in the posttest, it has been observed that hope and resilience have been enhanced among participants. Findings also revealed that there is a positive relationship between hope and resilience, r = 0.44, P < 0.05. A previous study showed that hope and resilience lead to positive physical and mental health in adults.[7] Meditation improves resilience that is sustained.[8] Resilience and hope program interventions in college settings have also demonstrated positive physical and mental health results.[9] Hence, it can be inferred that with regular meditation practice, resilience, and hopefulness may be strengthened. This research has pervasive implications for psychological well-being. Thus, it has a broader impact on mental health.
| Conclusion | | |
In this research, it can be concluded that goal meditation has significantly affected the personality traits like resilience and hopefulness. Therefore, it is likely that a new paradigm to understand the application of mediation in alleviating human psychological suffering and making life happier and more fulfilling.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
| 1. | Lemay V, Hoolahan J, Buchanan A. Impact of a yoga and meditation intervention on students' stress and anxiety levels. Am J Pharm Educ 2019;83:7001.  |
| 2. | Snyder CR. The Psychology of Hope: You Can Get there from Here. New York: Free Press; 1994. p. 428. |
| 3. | Luthans F. The need for and meaning of positive organizational behavior. J Organiz Behav 2002;23:695-706. |
| 4. | Connor KM, Davidson JR. Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depress Anxiety 2003;18:76-82. |
| 5. | Snyder CR, Harris C, Anderson JR, Holleran SA, Irving LM, Sigmon ST, et al. The will and the ways: Development and validation of an individual-differences measure of hope. J Pers Soc Psychol 1991;60:570-85. |
| 6. | Munoz RT, Hoppes S, Hellman CM, Brunk KL, Bragg JE, Cummins C. The effects of mindfulness meditation on hope and stress. Res Soc Work Pract 2018;28:696-707. |
| 7. | Scheier MF, Carver CS. Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychol 1985;4:219-47. |
| 8. | Haglund ME, Nestadt PS, Cooper NS, Southwick SM, Charney DS. Psychobiological mechanisms of resilience: Relevance to prevention and treatment of stress-related psychopathology. Dev Psychopathol 2007;19:889-920. |
| 9. | Stallard P, Buck R. Preventing depression and promoting resilience: Feasibility study of a school-based cognitive-behavioural intervention. Br J Psychiatry Suppl 2013;54:s18-23. |
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