Meditation may affect men and women differently

Women self-reported greater gains in observing their feelings, their ability not to judge or react

In a college course that included meditation training, women were more likely than men to report that the practice improved their mood, a small study found.

Meditation is an increasingly popular form of mental training on college campuses and off. Research suggests it may reduce blood pressure, gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, depression and insomnia, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

Practitioners direct and redirect their attention to the present moment, often by focusing on their breath.

At the end of a mindfulness meditation course at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, female students, on average, rated their so-called negative affect significantly lower than