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Self-published
Implications of Tamarkoz Method of Meditation on Stress, Emotion, Spirituality and Heart Rate (ICPSR 137281)
Released/updated on: 2022-06-01
Time period: 2015-08-01--2016-02-01
Perceived stress among university students is a prevalent health issue directly correlated with poor academic performance, compromised physical and mental health, high risk of substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. The rate of college students diagnosed with depression has increased, and there is high prevalence of anxiety among them. College and university students' stress, depression and anxiety are a neglected global public health issue which has significantly negative impact on students’ quality of life. High tension and stress make university students at risk for feelings of hopelessness and poor sleep quality, which can lead to illicit drug use. Non-medical use of prescription stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin and Vyvanse are widespread and common in university students to enhance their academic performance. With the rise in mental health concerns associated with distress among college and university students, and the increase in demand for counseling services, it is necessary to implement stress reduction programs on campuses. Spirituality and positive emotions have profound, positive impacts on health and reduce perceived stress. A national survey of college students indicated that over 80% have interest in spiritual development. Tamarkoz® is the art of self-knowledge through concentration and meditation that is unique to M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi®, School of Islamic Sufism®. It is required to be approved by the Sufi Master of M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi® to teach the Tamarkoz® method of meditation. It is a method of concentration that can be applied to any task. Tamarkoz incorporates physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of an individual. The method is said to discipline the mind, body, and emotions to avoid unintended distractions. Therefore, it can be used in daily life activities, such as studying, eating, driving, de-stressing or in Sufism, seeking self-knowledge. This study was an 18-week quasi-experimental design with pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up assessments in the experimental group, a wait-list control, and a third group that utilized the campus health center’s stress management resources. Participants, university students, had no prior exposure to Tamarkoz, and there were no statistically significant differences among groups on baseline measurements. Using a generalized linear mixed model, significant increases in positive emotion and daily spiritual experiences, and significant reductions in perceived stress and heart rate were found in the experimental group compared to the other two groups. Tamarkoz seems to show some advantages over the usual stress management resources offered by a student health center.