Mental Health, Well-Being, and Meditative Development: A Phenomenological Study of Advanced Meditators

Mindfulness is increasingly recognized for its mental health benefits, with evidence supporting efficacy across clinical and non-clinical contexts. However, little research has explored deeper psychological and even existential transformations related to advanced meditation, which meditative traditions regard as essential to actualize the most profound states of well-being. Given the global mental health crisis and the urgent demand for innovative interventions, there is an increasing need for research into the mental health implications of advanced meditation. 28 advanced meditators participated in semi-structured phenomenological interviews focused on their meditation experiences and mental health. A content-driven, inductive thematic analysis was conducted to identify core themes. Saturation was tracked, interrater reliability assessed, and Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines followed. Participants reported profound psychological changes spanning emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, and existential domains. Six major positive themes emerged: (1) vast improvements in baseline well-being; (2) consistently strong and prevalent positive attitudes; (3) increased positive affect; (4) enhanced mental and perceptual clarity, attentional stability, and cognitive balance; (5) positive shifts in life orientation; and (6) transformative changes in mental health conditions. Many described existential insights arising through the resolution of psychological difficulties, leading to reduced suffering and deeper meaning. Additional themes included synergistic effects between meditation, psychotherapy, and psychedelics. This study provides initial empirical evidence that advanced meditation supports profound psychological transformation, including reduced suffering and enhanced well-being across multiple domains, and sets the stage for multidisciplinary empirical work. Advanced meditation and meditative development may thus serve as powerful mechanisms for healing and flourishing.