A cross-sectional study on the relationship between meditation training and emotional intelligence in women.
Min-Kyu Sung, Na Hyun Ha, Ul Soon Lee and 1 others
PMID 34482661WHAT IT FOUND
Midlife women who had meditated for years reported better recognition and management of emotions than non-meditators.
This is an association, not proof that meditation causes emotional or sleep benefits.
Key findings
01Total emotional intelligence scores were 83.61 in the meditation group and 73.97 in the control group, and all three subscale scores were higher in the meditation group.
02Emotional intelligence increased with age only in the meditation group.
03Sleep quality and night-time melatonin did not differ significantly between the groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study measured women at a single time, so it cannot show that meditation caused higher emotional intelligence. The meditation group was self-selected, so other differences between the women may explain the result. The sample was limited to healthy Korean midlife women, so it may not apply to other populations. Sleep and melatonin findings were not significant, so they do not support a sleep benefit. Emotional intelligence and sleep quality were measured by self-report.
Declared interests
The authors report no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that meditation training causes better emotional intelligence or sleep. The study compared women who already meditated with women who did not at a single time, so it cannot separate meditation from other differences between the groups.