Practicing Loving-Kindness Meditation to Promote Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Study of Doctoral Students' Experience
International journal of doctoral studies January 1, 2025 Steve Haberlin, David N. Boote, Terrie Bradshaw
Doctoral students who practiced loving-kindness meditation during synchronous online classes mostly found it difficult, struggled with mind-wandering, and often skipped sessions when rushed or overwhelmed. A minority reported stress relief and shifts in perspective toward others. The qualitative study of 25 working adults in a Doctor of Education program suggests that advanced meditation methods should be scaffolded with introductory techniques and that students need time to adjust before meditating. The findings highlight the need for more research on making loving-kindness meditation feasible and effective for doctoral students, whose mental health concerns receive less attention than those of undergraduates.