Important Study: Zentangle® as Mindfulness Activity
In this newsletter we announced preliminary results of
research about the Zentangle Method. Meredith Yuhas, Ph.D., of Saint Joseph
College, West Hartford, CT, is conducting this research. In preparation,
Meredith attended our October 2011 Certified Zentangle
Teacher training seminarin Providence, RI.While her full study is ongoing, we are
thrilled to be able to share this summary which indicates that the Zentangle
Method is a highly effective tool for supporting and nourishing a state of
mindfulness.
We are grateful
to Meredith, her staff and St. Joseph College for their time, precision and
professionalism as they continue to accumulate important data on the benefits
of the Zentangle Method.
Here is
Meredith’s summary complete with reference notes:
Zentangle: Evaluation of a Mindfulness Activity
A recent pilot
study concluded that Zentangle is a mindfulness activity (1). Also, when
comparing a group of post test scores after 1 hour of Zentangle instruction,
including 10 minutes of independent practice, the participants experienced
mindfulness process post test scores equivalent to a group who participated in
a 1 hour a week 16 week mindfulness focused treatment (2). Thus, the Zentangle
process appears to be an efficient way to create a state of mindfulness.
Consistent with the increasing amount of recent mindfulness research, the
practice of Zentangle as a mindfulness activity could benefit the individual
both mentally and physically. Such benefits include but are not limited to
psychological wellbeing (3-6), decreased mental health symptoms, such as
depression (7), anxiety (8), and stress (9 -11). In addition to being useful in
the treatment of chronic pain (12), fibromyalgia (13-14), improving brain
function and immune response (15), blood pressure (16) and insomnia (17).
