Vedic Science Based Education and Nonverbal Intelligence: A Preliminary Longitudinal Study in Cambodia

Fergusson, Lee; Bonshek, Anna; Masson, Gildas Le

doi:10.1080/0729436960150106

Cited by 5 publications

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“…However, it is not within the scope of this paper to explain the theoretical framework for this model nor the casual and/or correlational links it posits, but such theory and supporting research have been presented in more detail elsewhere. 44 45 Of relevance to this study is the research program conducted by these authors, beginning in 1993 with the advent of MVU where the practice of Transcendental Meditation was incorporated into the curriculum, which investigated a range of outcomes, including those associated with increased non-verbal intelligence, 46 decreased PSTD symptoms and improved health characteristics of Cambodian undergraduates, 47 factors of relevance to higher education in Cambodia during the early 1990s, 48 and social, socio-political, and economic impacts. 6 49 50 This research program has even been extended to analyses of Cambodia's history of higher education and teacher education and to the role MVU played in revitalising them.…”

Section: Psychological) Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Strategy for Functional Health and Well-Being in Cambodian University Faculty and Staff

Fergusson¹

2020

WMJ

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The range of outcomes and published record on the Transcendental Meditation technique across 50 years of research in education, business, and government makes its application unique. Its association with health and relation to an individual’s quality-of-life have also made the technique useful in some developing countries. Data related to application of the technique to higher education in Cambodia have been accruing since the early 1990s. The 26-year research program begun by these authors associated with Transcendental Meditation and non-verbal intelligence, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, learning, memory, and personality in university students, as well as its collective effects on economic and social indicators and reductions in socio-political violence and crime, makes for an uncommonly rich body of knowledge in a country where empirical research has been rare. Indeed, the early studies in this research program represented among the first published research on higher education since the 1960s, after which Cambodia was plunged into civil war, genocide, and ongoing social turmoil and political conflict until 1993. The present study, which is a modified version of a study previously published in ASEAN Journal of Education, extends this research program to include a preliminary investigation of the practice of Transcendental Meditation by faculty and staff in three regional Cambodian universities and examines its impact on health and well-being. Findings generated by a concurrent, quasi-experimental mixed methods design suggest the practice may be of benefit to university personnel as measured by physical mental and social health, perceived health, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, among other quality-of-life variables, thereby adding to previous results associated with higher education in this increasingly important south-east Asian nation.

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Section: Psychological) Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Strategy for Functional Health and Well-Being in Cambodian University Faculty and Staff

Fergusson¹

2020

WMJ

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“…Studies on the effects of TM in college students on mindfulness (Aldahadha, 2013;Tanner et al, 2009), stress, anxiety (Dillbeck, 1977), and depression (Burns et al, 2011) show significant positive results. One longitudinal study examined the effect of practicing TM on nonverbal intelligence scores (Fergusson, Bonshek, & Masson, 1995) in Cambodian undergraduate students. This study revealed a significant increase in nonverbal intelligence scores over a 3-month period; however, students also engaged in two additional Vedic practices in addition to the practice of TM (Fergusson et al, 1995).…”

Section: Mindfulness Meditation and Tmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One longitudinal study examined the effect of practicing TM on nonverbal intelligence scores (Fergusson, Bonshek, & Masson, 1995) in Cambodian undergraduate students. This study revealed a significant increase in nonverbal intelligence scores over a 3-month period; however, students also engaged in two additional Vedic practices in addition to the practice of TM (Fergusson et al, 1995). Two longitudinal studies were conducted; one investigated ego development in college alumni over a 10-year span (Chandler, Alexander, & Heaton, 2005), while another measured cognitive ability and cognitive style over a 3-and 5-year period.…”

Section: Mindfulness Meditation and Tmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress and the beliefs of meditation among community college students

Wallentiny¹

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The purpose of this study was to assess stress levels in community college students and their beliefs of meditation. Community college students tend to report high levels of stress due to demographic factors, such low economic status, need to work at least part time, and need for remedial classes. Many of these demographic factors are particularly found in students above the age of 24, which are considered nontraditional students. Understanding stress levels and beliefs of meditation among students is necessary to determine if a meditation program such as Transcendental Meditation (TM) may work within a community college setting to reduce stress.The convenience sample consisted of 221 community college students enrolled in English composition courses at one large community college located on the east coast of the United States. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire, which included closed-and open-ended questions. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) and the Meditation Beliefs Questionnaire, which has two subscales, knowledge and perceptions of meditation. The study utilized descriptive statistics, analysis of variance procedures, and independent samples t-tests to determine differences between stress levels and beliefs of meditation, as well as differences in gender and age segment (i.e., traditional vs. nontraditional).While this study found no statistically significant differences among students' beliefs of meditation and stress levels by gender or by age segment, findings showed statistically significant results for students who reported high versus moderate stress levels regarding beliefs of meditation. Specifically, the high stress group had significantly more knowledge than the moderate stress group about the actual benefits of meditation. One practical implication of the research could be to develop an educational program introducing students to TM, which may reduce stress and improve academic performance. Ultimately, such a program may transform 4 the lives of community college students by improving graduation rates and by encouraging lifelong practices that have an impact on students' health and wellbeing.

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Journal of Offender Rehabilitation

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Vedic Science Based Education and Nonverbal Intelligence: A Preliminary Longitudinal Study in Cambodia

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

A Strategy for Functional Health and Well-Being in Cambodian University Faculty and Staff

A Strategy for Functional Health and Well-Being in Cambodian University Faculty and Staff

Stress and the beliefs of meditation among community college students

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