Perceived effects of labyrinth walking on a variety of physical and emotional traits

Abstract: This study reports the results of using a questionnaire developed by the author to assess the effects of walking the labyrinth on ten physical and emotional traits. The questionnaire asks the respondent to respond using a five-step Likert Scale to several questions, including the following primary question: "Comparing how I felt before I walked the labyrinth with how I feel now, after walking the labyrinth, I feel …" In summary, from 59% to 75% of the respondents reported that they felt "much more" or "more" relaxed (74%), clear (59%), peaceful (74%), centered (75%), open (64%), quiet (68%), or reflective (74%) following a labyrinth walk than before a labyrinth walk. Additionally, from 58% to 68% of respondents reported that they felt "much less" or "less" anxious (63%), stressed (68%), or agitated (58%) following a labyrinth walk than before a labyrinth walk. A factor analysis of the data identified two different components (factors) that contribute to the differences in the scores. The primary factor appears to relate to a physical dimension while the second factor appears to relate more to a "state of mind" dimension. One possible interpretation of these results suggested by the author, based on the two factors identified and the order of the factors, is that walking a labyrinth can enable a set of physical responses (relaxed, unstressed, etc.) that allows for the emergence of a set of "state of mind" responses (reflective, centered, clear, etc.) that contribute to the frequently reported "labyrinth effect." The questionnaire also gives respondents an opportunity to provide and rate other words that describe their labyrinth experience and to rate the impact of various environmental factors on their overall labyrinth experience. The study compiles and reports the results from 160 respondents across seven labyrinth events and 16 labyrinths of various designs.

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