To enhance psychological adjustment, Vipassana meditation assists individuals to perceive the transitory nature of the self. Beeauae the consequences of this potentially troubling insight are not well understood, changes in self-concept and ego defense mechanisms of two cohorts (N1= 222, N2 = 216) of young (M = 18.03 years) Thai participants who attended separate seven-day Vipassana meditation retreats and a nontreated control group (N= 281) were compared. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed positive gains in all areas of self-representation among meditators relative to controls @ < .001). Ego defense mechanisms of the meditation participants also underwent significant change (p < .0001) with coping becoming characterized by e a t e r maturity and tolerance of common stressors. Increases in Buddhist beliefs were significantly correlated with heightened self-esteem and less impulsiveness (ps < ,001). Theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed. Interest regarding the effects of meditation based on traditional Buddhist principles remains high (Goldstein 1993; Kabat-Zinn 1994; Shapiro 1992a; Tart 1990). Vipassana, which is one of the oldest forms of Buddhist meditative practice, was developed within the Theravada tradition and consists of the mindful observation of whatever arises in con-scio&ness. It is believed the sustained awareness of cognitive and sensory phenomena will lead to the realization that unnecessary suffering results when attempts are made to attach to a n y h n g within the impermanent flux of human experience (Bucknell and Stuart-Fox 1993: ch. 4; Janakabhivamsa 1995; Nyanaponika 1988; SolB-Lens 1986). Other terms for Vipassana practice include "insight meditation" or simply "mindfulness" (Gunaratana 1993). This form of meditation is gaining increased recognition, and several studies have shown positive outcome following the application of interventions based on insight meditation procedures (e.g.

Because little is known about the mental and emotional functioning of delinquent adolescents in Thailand, 400 incarcerated youths (300 boys and I 00 girls) and 400 nonadjudicated controls of equivalent age, gender, socioeconomic status, and religion completed newly normed measures of self-concept (Tennessee Self-Concept Scale), ego defense mechanisms (Life Style Index), and personality traits (Adjective Checklist). Among delinquents, gender contrasts revealed that girls, although less self-confident than their male peers, had better social skills and were more aware of their emotions. Relative to controls, the self-perceptions of delinquents were rigid and distinguished by feelings of impulsiveness and being misunder-stood by family members. Denial, repression, and regressive emotionality characterized the coping of the criminally involved youths, and personality test data revealed that the jailed adolescents had impaired introspective and interpersonal abilities. Implications ofthefindingsfor the prevention of delinquency and the treatment of adolescents with disorders of conduct are discussed.