The Transcendental Meditation Program and Rehabilitation: a Pilot Project at the Federal Correctional Institution at Lompoc, California

The Transcendental Meditation program was examined as a possible solution to the difficult problem of inmate rehabilitation. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered to prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institution at Lompoc, California, twice before and twice after they learned the Transcendental Meditation technique. At the final testing they were also administered a Shelly Questionnaire and a Likert Scale to assess self-perceived personality changes. At both pretest sessions (four and one-half weeks and one to two days before the experimental group received instruction in the Transcendental Meditation technique), the mean transitory and general anxiety test scores of the experimental subjects were insignificantly different from those of a comparison group of nonmeditating inmates. At the first posttest (six weeks after beginning Transcendental Meditation), the meditators showed anxiety scores significantly below the prison norm (p < .001 for transitory anxiety; p < .001 for general anxiety). This marked reduction in anxiety was maintained at the second posttest 15 weeks after Transcendental Meditation was begun (p < .001 for transitory anxiety; p < .001 for general anxiety). Regularity of meditation was correlated with reduction in anxiety. The Likert Scale administered at the second posttest session suggested positive personality changes in the meditating inmates. Comments elicited by a questionnaire indicated enthusiastic acceptance of the Transcendental Meditation program by the inmates. Because anxiety is associated with the most common problems facing inmates, and because Transcendental Meditation markedly reduces anxiety, the Transcendental Meditation program shows great promise for rehabilitation programs.