Assessment of Sleep Quality and Mental Health After Using Meditation

Assessment of Sleep Quality and Mental Health After Using Meditation: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This is a randomized controlled trial that intends to verify the effectiveness of the daily practice of meditation before going to sleep for the improvement of sleep, stress, mental health and quality of life of people with sleep problems.

Participants selected for this clinical trial will be randomized into two groups: group 1 (intervention), with 87 participants undergoing 30 minutes of Shabad Kriya meditation before going to sleep, and group 2 (control), with 87 participants who will perform 30 minutes of relaxing reading before going to sleep. In addition, participants will complete the demographic data form; a sleep quality diary; and the scales: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PBS), Five Facets of Mindfulness (FFMQ), Daily Spiritual Experiences (DSES), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Wellness Scale Spiritual (FACIT- 12), Duke Religiosity Index (DUREL), Quality of Life - Brief Mode (WHOQOL-Bref) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21). The study is open to the general community, and those interested are screened through the "Insomnia Severity Index" and questionnaires about health conditions. For conducting and guiding the intervention and completing the research instruments, online meetings will be held with the participants. The sleep quality diary will be completed for fourteen days before the start of the intervention (Baseline). Data collection will be carried out with online Google Forms questionnaires, sent through links in digital media, such as messages or emails, or made available in printed form. The main outcome measure will be sleep efficiency calculated using data from the sleep diary. Data from participants with ISI greater than or equal to 10 will be compared before and after the intervention. Additionally, data analysis of participants with ISI above or greater than 8 will be performed. At the end of the eighth week of the intervention (Shabad Kriya meditation or Relaxing reading), as well as one month after the end of the intervention, and three months after the end of the intervention, the participants will again fill in the questionnaires described above, for statistical comparisons.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index between 8-28)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Major medical or psychiatric problems
• Who has used sleeping pills or sleep-disrupting medications in the last 30 days prior to participating in the study
• Who will need to use sleeping pills or sleep-disrupting medications during the study