Self-reported differences in resilience and psychological distress between Sri Lankan skilled meditators and non-meditators: A preliminary cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Meditation is viewed to result in calm and relaxed states of mind which may buffer against psychopathology. The current study explored differences between self-reported levels of psychological distress (namely depression, stress, and anxiety) and resilience in a sample of Sri Lankan skilled meditators and non-meditators. Methods: A purposive sample of skilled meditators (SM; n=32) with a meditation experience of more than three years, who followed meditation practices taught in Sri Lankan Buddhist meditation centres/temples/monasteries, and as identified through the “Colombo intake interview to recruit skilled meditators for scientific research (CIISMR)” and a community sample of age and gender-matched non-meditating controls (NM; n=32) participated. They completed the Sinhala versions of Resilience Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and a demographic details questionnaire, after providing informed consent for participation. The study (EC-19-095) was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.