Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine (Dec 2021)

Can the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change Explain the Intent for People to Practice Meditation?

  • Manoj Sharma MBBS, PhD,
  • Matthew Asare MPH, PhD,
  • Ram Lakhan DrPH,
  • Amar Kanekar MBBS, MPH, PhD,
  • Vinayak K. Nahar MD, PhD,
  • Sheniz Moonie MS, PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X211064582
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26

Abstract

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Meditation is gaining popularity as adjuvant therapy for many chronic ailments, mental well-being, and spiritual growth. Behavioral theories have been underutilized in understanding meditation behavior. This study aimed to test if a fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) could explain the intent for starting and maintaining meditation behavior in a sample of US adults. A face and content valid 48-item instrument based on MTM was administered in a cross-sectional design through an online survey (n = 330). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.70) and construct validation using structural equation modeling of the subscales were all acceptable. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that, after controlling for demographic covariates, the MTM constructs of participatory dialogue (β = 0.153; P = .002) and behavioral confidence (β = 0.479; P < .001) were statistically significant in predicting intent for starting meditation behavior and accounted for 32.9% of the variance. Furthermore, after controlling for demographic covariates, the MTM constructs of emotional transformation (β = 0.390; P < .001) and changes in the social environment (β = 0.395; P < .001) were statistically significant and accounted for 52.9% of the variance in the intent for maintaining meditation behavior. Based on this study, it can be concluded that MTM offers a pragmatic framework to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based (theory-based) meditation behavior change interventions.