title: Psychological effects of meditation at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meditation is widely used as a therapeutic measure because it can effectively reduce stress, pain, and improve the mental health, but there are many unclear points about the psychological effects of meditation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to verify the psychological effects of meditation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The short version of Profile of Mood States (POMS-SF) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) were conducted to compare 97 Myanmar people practicing Vipassana contemplation training with 81 Myanmar nurses who did not have any experience with meditation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of our study revealed that meditation mitigated depressive mood, anger, hostility, and fatigue and increased vigor. The enhancement of psychological flexibility occurred only after practicing meditation for more than a year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be considered that meditation mitigates anger, hostility and fatigue and increases vigor at a relatively early stage after starting meditation practice, and if meditation practice is continued for more than a year, enhancement of psychological flexibility can also be expected.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Spinal Surgery and Medical Engineering , Mie University Graduate School of Medicine , Tsu City , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.affiliation: a Department of Spinal Surgery and Medical Engineering , Mie University Graduate School of Medicine , Tsu City , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , University of Medicine , Yangon-1, Yangon , Myanmar , and.
authors.forename: Thein Aung
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kyaw
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , University of Medicine , Yangon-1, Yangon , Myanmar , and.
authors.forename: Zaw Wai
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Soe
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , University of Medicine , Mandalay , Mandalay , Myanmar.
authors.forename: Zaw Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , University of Medicine , Mandalay , Mandalay , Myanmar.
authors.forename: Maung Mg
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Htwe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D002016:Buddhism / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D002052:Myanmar; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
keywords: Meditation; mental health; personality; psychological tests; psychology