All Studies · Well-being & Healthy Populations · Martinez (2021)

Martinez (2021)

Moderate Limited indexing · RCT · Clinical-Grade RCT · n = 72
Quality Index (Adjusted QI) 0.778
0 Low < 0.56 Moderate 0.56–0.77 High ≥ 0.78 1
Study Details
ConditionHealthy adults / Positive psychology outcomes (non-clinical population)
Clinical domainWell-being & Healthy Populations
PopulationHealthy Spanish-speaking adults, non-clinical, no psychological disorders (Spain)
Sample sizen = 72
Country / SettingSpain
Protocol clusterKirtan Kriya (12-min)
Duration8 weeks; 12 min/day Kirtan Kriya (same protocol as Newberg/Moss/Lavretsky series)
Control typeActive Control
ComparatorActive comparison - Kirtan Kriya (KK) meditation vs Internal Conflict Resolution (ICR) meditation
Outcomes & Effect Sizes
Primary outcomeositive psychology: Self-esteem, Mood (positive/negative affect), Emotional self-efficacy
Scales usedRosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (RESE) - all Spanish validated versions
Key resultCOMBINED (both groups): Significant improvements with medium-large effects: self-esteem (d=0.90), emotional self-efficacy (d=0.687), positive affect (d=0.74), reduced negative affect (d=0.62). BETWEEN GROUPS: Kirtan Kriya (with mantra) was moderately more effective than Internal Conflict Resolution (no mantra) for self-esteem (p=.025, d=0.33) and positive affect (p=.024, d=0.34). No significant difference for emotional self-efficacy or negative affect between groups.
Effect sizeLarge effects for self-esteem (d=0.90) and positive affect (d=0.74); medium effects for emotional self-efficacy (d=0.687) and negative affect reduction (d=0.62)
ES value0.9 (d)
Retention~90% completion (high adherence, <10% missed >3 days)
SafetyOnly 1/46 (2.2%) reported negative change
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Methodological Summary

Randomized comparison trial; 40-day brief daily meditation (11 min/day); 46 healthy Spanish adults; comparison of Kirtan Kriya (with mantra) vs Internal Conflict Resolution (no mantra); self-administered at home; both groups showed significant improvements in self-esteem, mood, emotional self-efficacy (medium-large effects); KK moderately superior to ICR for self-esteem and positive affect; high compliance; 91% perceived positive change; quantitative RCT design with validated scales

KY Protocol Components

Kirtan Kriya: 12-minute singing meditation using mantra "Sa-Ta-Na-Ma" with finger movements (thumb touches index, middle, ring, pinky sequentially). Structure: 2 min aloud → 2 min whisper → 4 min silent → 2 min whisper → 2 min aloud. STUDY-SPECIFIC: Transpersonal/spiritual dimensions of practice; consciousness, self-transcendence, spiritual well-being focus.

Quality Item Scores — 1 fail · 2 partial · 3 pass · ★ critical
★A1
3
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B6
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★B7
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B9
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★C1
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C2
1
C3
1
JP1
2
Critical fails0
Raw QI0.778
SAF1
Adjusted QI0.778
Final ratingModerate