Prevalence of meditation-related adverse effects in a population-based sample in the United States.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional population survey
PubMed 34074221 · doi:10.1080/10503307.2021.1933646
What was done
The authors conducted a US population-based survey evaluating the occurrence of meditation-related adverse effects (MRAE). From 953 individuals who completed a screening survey, 470 reported lifetime exposure to meditation, and 434 completed a follow-up survey evaluating specific MRAEs, duration, functional impairment, and correlates such as childhood adversity.
What was found
Among meditators, 32.3% endorsed a general MRAE item and 50.0% reported at least one specific MRAE. Adverse effect duration was 1 month or longer for 10.4% of respondents. Anxiety, traumatic re-experiencing, and emotional sensitivity were most common. Functional impairment was reported by 10.6% of participants, lasting 1 month or longer for 1.2%. Childhood adversity was associated with elevated risk for MRAE. Participants reporting MRAEs were equally glad to have practiced meditation as those who did not.
Why it matters
While meditation is widely viewed as harmless, this study shows that adverse experiences and functional impairment occur in a notable proportion of practitioners, highlighting the need for trauma-informed practice and realistic risk communication.
Limits
The study is observational and relies on retrospective self-report surveys, introducing potential recall and attribution bias. The abstract provides no granular breakdown of meditation types, frequency, or duration, and cannot prove causal relationships between meditation and adverse psychological symptoms.