Researchers are inviting beginner meditators to take part in a long-term study exploring how regular meditation relates to quality of life over time. This study follows people practising mindfulness, Mahayana or Theravada Buddhist meditation to better understand what practitioners experience as their practice develops, across different traditions and settings.

By taking part, you’ll be contributing to research that aims to build clearer, more realistic expectations around meditation practice. You will be contributing to the support people may need at different stages. What researchers learn may help inform safer, more accessible, and more ethically delivered meditation training in the future. Adults aged 18+ who live in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, or the UK and have recently begun a regular meditation practice may be eligible. 

Sign up to see if you're eligible for this exciting study. 

Important: This study is specifically for beginner meditators who started practising regularly (at least 40 minutes per week) within the past 1–4 months.

• Participants may gain insights into their own meditation experiences over time.

• Participants will earn USD $5 per monthly survey completed, USD $10 per yearly survey completed, and gain weekly entries into a prize draw for USD $100 gift cards (20 winners every 6 months). All compensation will be paid as gift cards in local currency. You may nominate compensation to be paid to a charitable organisation on your behalf.
• You will only be eligible for compensation if you are deemed a genuine and engaged participant.

• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may help researchers better understand meditation practice and the range of experiences practitioners may encounter in the future.
• Participants will be helping to advance research aimed at making meditation training and support more informed, accessible, and ethical.

The study team will explain the research in its entirety, but it is essential that you are willing to:

• Participate in three 30–40-minute online surveys with questions on meditation history, health and wellbeing, and sociodemographics at the beginning of the study, after 1 year, and after 2 years. 
• Participate in 15-minute surveys monthly, asking about your meditation practice and experiences in the past month.
• Provide weekly brief voice diaries and a few short questions about the amount you practiced in the last week in the Fabla app

Dr Julieta Galante

Dr. Julieta Galante is a medical doctor specialising in public mental health research. She studies mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation, exploring their effectiveness, suitability, and impact on psychological and social outcomes, while promoting rigorous, transparent, and interdisciplinary research.

This study is conducted virtually and is open across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand

The University of Melbourne is Australia's top university and a global leader in education, teaching, and research, offering a wide range of study programs and research opportunities to support academic and professional growth.

Informed Consent

You will receive a detailed outline of all details of the study, including risks and procedures, and you will be given the chance to ask study staff questions before you decide whether to participate.

Withdraw At Any Time

If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time

Secure and Confidential Data

Your records relating to this study and any other information received will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.