J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  1997 Jul;36(4):723-731.

The Effect of Meditation on Problem Solving Ability and Self-Perception

• Lee JH
• Kim YM
• Choi YM
• Lee GC

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of meditation on problem solving and self-perception in psychiatric outpatients. Meditation group which had taken the medication and participated in 20 meditation session, and comparison group which had only taken the medication were given Social Problem Solving Inventory(SFSI) and Self-Perception Inventory(SPSI) at pretest and posttest period. The results were as follows: when compared pretest score and posttest score, scores of problem solving cognition subscale and problem solving emotion subscale were increased at a statistically significant level in meditation group. However, scores of comparison group were not changed. In comparison group, scores of problem solving behavior subscale and decision making subscale were decreased at a statistically significant level, and attitudes of self-perception were changed negatively whereas scores of meditation group were not. The results of present study suggested that meditation might have positive effects on perspectives of approaching the problem, and have buffering effects on decreasing of problem solving behavior, decreasing of decision making and negative change of self- perception.

Keyword

Meditation; Problem solving ability; Decision making ability; Self-Perception

MeSH Terms

Cognition
Decision Making
Humans
Meditation*
Outpatients
Problem Solving*
Self Concept*
Social Problems