Meditation, Compassionate Love, and Mental Health in Later Life.
Journal of gerontological nursing – March 01, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
Meditation significantly enhances feelings of compassionate love, which in turn reduces depressive symptoms and anxiety in later life. In a nationwide survey of 1,861 adults, those practicing meditation reported a 11% increase in feelings of being loved. Higher levels of love correlated with a decrease of 2.10 points in depressive symptoms and 0.99 points in anxiety. Additionally, meditation indirectly lowered depressive symptoms by 0.23 points and anxiety by 0.11 points through its impact on compassionate love.
Abstract
Understanding of the mechanisms by which meditation imparts beneficial effects on later-life mental health is limited. The current study assessed the role of compassionate love in mediating the relationship between meditation and mental health in later life. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (N = 1,861), we examined the indirect effects of meditation on depressive symptoms and anxiety via compassionate love. Participants who practiced meditation (compared to those who did not) had significantly higher feelings of being loved (b = 0.11, p < 0.05); those who experienced more love had lower depressive symptoms (b = -2.10, p < 0.001) and anxiety (b = -0.99, p < 0.001). Meditation also had significant indirect effects (via compassionate love) on depressive symptoms (b = -0.23, p < 0.05) and anxiety (b = -0.11, p < 0.05). This study underscores the need for contemplative interventions that foster compassionate love to improve mental health in later life. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(3), 40-50.].