Personal Variables Predicting Voluntary Participation in and Attrition from a Meditation Program

Abstract

147 students were assessed on absorption, hypnotic susceptibility, and three measures of “psychological well-being” (self-esteem, depressive affect, psychosomatic symptoms) and were then invited to participate without cost in a program to learn meditation. Those completing the four-session training program were followed for 5 mo. by phone and mail. Analysis indicated that (a) meditating volunteers scored higher on the pretest absorption measure than non-volunteers, (b) 91% of the volunteers had stopped meditating 1 mo. after training, and (c) the pretest self-esteem and psychosomatic symptoms measures predicted attrition from meditation. The implications of these findings for meditation research are discussed.

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