Mindfulness and Loving-Kindness Meditation
Denholm J. Adventure-Heart, Michael Proeve
Psychological Reports January 6, 2017 DOI: 10.1177/0033294116685867 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractBrief mindfulness and loving-kindness meditations increase feelings of social and nature connectedness, but do not alter positive or negative affect. In an experiment with 115 undergraduates, those who listened to a guided mindfulness or loving-kindness meditation reported greater connectedness afterward compared to those who listened to a progressive muscle relaxation control. The two meditation types were similarly effective, and neither changed emotional state.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 115 |
| Population | Undergraduate students (74.8% females; mean age = 20.5 years) |
| Citations | 115 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness and loving-kindness meditations both enhance social and nature connectedness relative to a control, with no difference between them and no effect on affect. |
Abstract
An experiment involving 115 undergraduate students (74.8% females; mean age = 20.5 years, SD = 4.3) was conducted to explore effects of meditation on social connectedness, nature connectedness, and affect. Participants listened to one of three brief guided meditation Mp3 recordings via the internet, which involved mindfulness meditation (MM), loving-kindness meditation (LKM), or progressive muscle relaxation (active control group). Participants in the MM and LKM groups reported greater social and nature connectedness at post-test than those in the control group. There were no significant differences in connectedness between the MM and LKM groups, suggesting they are both effective for enhancing connectedness. There were no significant changes in negative or positive affect at post-test due to the interventions. Recommendations for future research are provided.