A randomized controlled trial of rural Lebanese women found that three months of Transcendental Meditation practice significantly increased happiness, resilience and self-efficacy while reducing perceived stress, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Women's Health .
The study included 114 women from approximately 20 villages in Lebanon's Chouf region, an area where residents have faced continuing economic instability, political unrest and environmental challenges. Researchers from Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa randomly assigned participants either to learn the Transcendental Meditation technique or to an active control group that received weekly videos on self-development and well-being.
After three months, the women practicing Transcendental Meditation showed significantly greater improvements than the control group on all four measures assessed by the researchers: happiness, resilience, self-efficacy and perceived stress. The differences between groups were statistically significant at p ≤ .001 for each measure.
“This is a significant study considering the methods: a randomized controlled trial with 140 subjects, and the findings of statistically significant changes in every measure. This is very encouraging because it shows the women improved across several dimensions of psychological well-being at the same time,” said Marie Loiselle, PhD, principal investigator and researcher in the Department of Maharishi Vedic Science at Maharishi International University. “The results suggest that Transcendental Meditation may offer these women an additional way to cope with the significant pressures they face in daily life.”
Happiness showed the largest change
Happiness showed the largest change among the four measures. Women in the Transcendental Meditation group reported increases in happiness at both one and three months. In contrast, the control group showed a small improvement at one month followed by a marked decrease at three months.
The researchers also found that self-efficacy and perceived stress were significantly related to levels of happiness. In their statistical model, self-efficacy entered as the strongest predictor, followed by perceived stress; together, the two variables accounted for 42% of the variance in happiness.
Self-efficacy refers to a person's perception of their ability to achieve desired results through their own actions. The researchers found that self-efficacy increased in the Transcendental Meditation group while decreasing in the control group after three months.
High adherence to the practice
Participants were encouraged to practice Transcendental Meditation for 20 minutes twice a day. Adherence was high: 60% reported practicing twice a day every day or most days, 18% practiced once a day, and 20% practiced irregularly. No harmful events related to participation were reported.
The study's randomized controlled design included an active control condition, allowing researchers to compare the effects of learning Transcendental Meditation with participation in another structured activity focused on self-development and well-being.
“The improvements in self-efficacy and reductions in perceived stress are particularly important because both were related to happiness in our analysis,” said Frederick Travis, PhD, statistician and senior advisor on the study. “These findings provide a basis for further research into approaches that may help people cope with persistent environmental stress.”
A population facing chronic stress
The study focused on women in Lebanon's Chouf region. The researchers note that women in Lebanon can face multiple sources of stress, including economic instability, political unrest, environmental problems and gender inequality. Previous research has also identified cultural and social barriers that may discourage some people from seeking professional help for stress and related psychological difficulties.
The research was conducted in collaboration with the Ladies Foundation for Pure Knowledge, which was nearing the end of a project to teach Transcendental Meditation to approximately 1,000 women in the Chouf region. The organization approached the researchers to investigate whether the practice was producing measurable benefits among the women learning the practice. Susan Hamza, the foundation’s director, reflected on the project, “So many of the participants told me their life had been transformed in many ways that words could not even begin to describe it. We are deeply grateful for all those who were involved in realizing this project.”
Further research needed
The researchers emphasize that the findings require confirmation through larger and longer studies. Of the 114 women who enrolled, 83 completed both posttests, and participants were followed for three months. The researchers recommend future studies with six- or 12-month follow-up periods and larger populations in Lebanon and potentially elsewhere in the Middle East.
The study was approved by the Maharishi International University Research Institute Review Board and registered with the U.S. Clinical Trials Registry (NCT05836129). Funding was provided by the Ladies Foundation of Pure Knowledge in Lebanon and individual donors. The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.
About the study
The study, Improving happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy while reducing stress for rural Lebanese women using the Transcendental Meditation practice: A randomized controlled trial , was authored by Marie Loiselle, PhD, and Frederick Travis, PhD, of Maharishi International University and published in Women's Health in 2026.
About the Transcendental Meditation Technique
Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural technique practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It is easily learned, and is not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. It does not involve concentration, control of the mind, contemplation, or monitoring of thoughts or breathing. The practice allows the active thinking mind to settle down to a state of inner calm. For more information visit www.tm.org .
Randomized controlled/clinical trial
People
Improving happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy while reducing stress for rural Lebanese women using the Transcendental Meditation practice: A randomized controlled trial
25-Aug-2026
The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.