Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study

Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study

ABSTRACT: This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation (P < .001). Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation. AUTHOR SUMMARY: Tamara L. Goldsby, PhD tgoldsby@ucsd.edu, Michael E. Goldsby, PhD, […], and Paul J. Mills, PhD

READ MORE: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2156587216668109