Increases in positive psychological characteristics with a new relaxation-response curriculum in high school students.

Authors
Herbert Benson, Arthur Kornhaber, Carol Kornhaber, Mila N. LeChanu
Publication
Journal of Research and Development in Education
27(4), 226-231
Benson Technique  Learning Abilities
Abstract

Evaluated self-esteem and locus of control in a group of high school students prior to, during, and following a single academic year. Using a randomized, crossover experimental design, 26 Ss were exposed to either a health curriculum based on elicitation of the relaxation response (RLR) and then a follow-up period, while 24 were assigned to a control health curriculum and then the RLR. Psychological testing was conducted using the Piers-Harris Children’s Self Concept Scale and the Nowicki Locus of Control Scale for Children. Exposure to the RLR curriculum, but not the control curriculum, resulted in significant increases in self-esteem and a tendency toward greater internal locus of control scores. Teacher observations indicated a high degree of student acceptance of RLR training. Results suggest that incorporation of the RLR into school curricula may increase positive psychological attitudes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Web and Email Links
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-1...
Related Listings
Genomic and Clinical Effects Associated with a ...
Authors
Braden Kuo, Manoj Bhasin, Jolene Jacquart, Matthew A. Scult, Lauren Slipp, Eric Isaac Kagan Riklin, Veronique Lepoutre, Nicole Comosa, Beth-Ann Norton, Allison Dassatti, Jessica Rosenblum, Andrea H. Thurler, Brian C. Surjanhata, Nicole N. Hasheminejad, Leslee Kagan, Ellen Slawsby, Sowmya R. Rao, Eric A. Macklin, Gregory L. Fricchione, Herbert Benson
Journal
PLOS ONE
·
IBS, Benson Technique
Introduction Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can profoundly affect quality of life and are influenced by stress and resiliency. The impact of mind-body interventions (MBIs) on IBS and IBD patients has not previously been examined. Methods Nineteen IBS and 29 IBD patients were enrolled in a 9-week relaxation response based mind-body group intervention (RR-MBI), focusing on elicitation of the RR and cognitive skill building. Symptom questionnaires […]
Depression and Education as Predicting Factors ...
Authors
Mutsuhiro Nakao, MD, MPH, Gregory Fricchione, MD, Patricia Myers, Patricia C. Zuttermeister, MA, Arthur J. Barsky, MD, Herbert Benson, MD
Journal
Behavioral Medicine
·
Benson Technique, Psychology, Depression
The authors compared characteristics of 1,012 outpatients completing a 10-week behavioral medicine intervention with 300 outpatients who dropped out. They administered the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R) before and after the program. Patients who completed the treatment, compared with dropouts, tended to be more highly educated, married, and gainfully employed. Their pretreatment scores on the SCL-90R were significantly lower than those of the dropouts on somatization, depressi […]
Meditation experience is associated with increa...
Authors
Sara W. Lazar, Catherine E. Kerr, Rachel H. Wasserman, Jeremy R. Gray, Douglas N. Greve, Michael Treadway, Metta McGarvey, Brian T. Quinn, Jeffery A. Dusek, Herbert Benson, Scott L. Rauch, Christopher I. Moore, Bruce Fischl
Journal
NeuroReport
·
Brain, Meditation in General
Previous research indicates that long-term meditation practice is associated with altered resting electroencephalogram patterns, suggestive of long lasting changes in brain activity. We hypothesized that meditation practice might also be associated with changes in the brain's physical structure. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess cortical thickness in 20 participants with extensive Insight meditation experience, which involves focused attention to internal experiences. Brai […]