The interventional effects of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions and interpersonal interactions

He, Xiaoli; Shi, Wendian; Han, Xiangxiang; Na-na, Wang; Zhang, Ni; Wang, Xiaoli

doi:10.2147/ndt.s79607

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Three low-risk studies did not find support for subjective improvements (Kang et al, 2014; Keefe, 1979; Rosenberg et al., 2015). There were 9 medium-risk studies and 8 found support for subjective improvements (Ashar et al, 2016; Asuero et al, 2014; He et al, 2015; Hutcherson et al, 2008; Logie & Ferwen, 2015; Oman, Thoresen, & Hedberg, 2010; Shapiro, Schwartz, & Bonner, 1998; Taylor et al, 2015). Three studies were classified as high-risk and two of these found improvements (Kok et al, 2013; Wallmark, Safarzadeh, Daukantaite, & Maddux, 2013).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors

et al. 2017

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Increased attention has focused on methods to increase empathy, compassion, and pro-social behavior. Meditation practices have traditionally been used to cultivate pro-social outcomes, and recently investigations have sought to evaluate their efficacy for these outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of meditation for pro-social emotions and behavior. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases (inception-April 2016) using the search terms: mindfulness, meditation, mind-body therapies, tai chi, yoga, MBSR, MBCT, empathy, compassion, love, altruism, sympathy, or kindness. Randomized controlled trials in any population were included (26 studies with 1,714 subjects). Most were conducted among healthy adults (=11) using compassion or loving kindness meditation (=18) over 8-12weeks (=12) in a group format (=17). Most control groups were wait-list or no-treatment (=15). Outcome measures included self-reported emotions (e.g., composite scores, validated measures) and observed behavioral outcomes (e.g., helping behavior in real-world and simulated settings). Many studies showed a low risk of bias. Results demonstrated small to medium effects of meditation on self-reported (SMD = .40, < .001) and observable outcomes (SMD = .45, < .001) and suggest psychosocial and neurophysiological mechanisms of action. Subgroup analyses also supported small to medium effects of meditation even when compared to active control groups. Clinicians and meditation teachers should be aware that meditation can improve positive pro-social emotions and behaviors.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors

et al. 2017

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“…Although this meditation is little known and does not have scientific literature to operationalize it, its content resembles other more popular meditations belonging to group of KBM. According to He et al (2015), LKM, a contemplative meditation aimed to cultivating positive thoughts about one another and oneself, typically increases positive emotions and decreases negative ones. These characteristics are similar to the THM practiced by G1 in the present study, which may justify the better performance of this group in increasing or decreasing emotions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to note that MF is not the only type of meditation that has been associated with benefits to people’s lives. In general, meditative practices promote changes in the psychological and personal experience of practitioners (He et al, 2015). The Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), for example, is a type of Buddhist meditation that proposes to the practitioner to cultivate unconditional kindness for oneself and for others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Positive Emotional-Based Meditation but Not Mindfulness-Based Meditation Improves Emotion Regulation

2019

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Among the various strategies for modulating the components of the emotional responses, the cognitive reappraisal and distraction are highlighted in current researches. As indicated in recent studies, the capacity for emotional regulation can be improved by mindfulness meditation practicing. This practice usually offers benefits to people’s cognitive functioning and aims to improve a characteristic that is intrinsic to every human being: the ability to turn attention to the present moment. Importantly, positive emotions might also be effective on emotional regulation and several meditation practices make use of it. Thus, we aimed to compare two meditation modalities: one focused on attention only (mindfulness) and another focused-on attention toward positive emotions [Twin Hearts Meditation (THM)]. Ninety healthy subjects without any previous experience in meditation were enrolled in this experiment. Of these participants, 30 were submitted to the mindfulness practice with full attention on the observation of thoughts; 30 to the THM; and 30 to a control group (no meditation practice). After one session of meditation, all the participants completed emotional regulation task judging the valence and arousal of pictures with emotional content. In addition to the behavioral data, the participants’ psychophysiological measures were recorded via electrocardiography (ECG). The results demonstrate a greater efficacy of THM in suppressing the negative valence of the negative pictures and amplifying the valence of the positive ones. No effect of meditation was observed for the ECG. Our findings indicate that contemplative meditation (THM) can positively influence the emotion regulation ability, even when performed by non-meditators and only once. However, in mindfulness meditation this same immediate effect was not found. Our findings reveal that faster effects of meditation practices can be obtained by practices that considers either the attentional processing and the positive emotions.

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“…Research consistently suggests that self-compassion strengthens one's psychological profi le, as it helps build resilience against depression and anxiety and increases life satisfaction, optimism, social connectedness, and happiness (Raab, 2014), as well as improves emotional intelligence, wisdom, and well-being (Duarte et al, 2016). Additional evidence suggests that self-compassion and mindfulness can also enhance patient outcomes and patient satisfaction by improving interpersonal interactions (He et al, 2015), reducing anxiety in individuals with breast cancer (Duarte et al, 2016), and providing better metabolic control and fewer metabolic complications in individuals with diabetes (Seppala, Hutcherson, Nguyen, Doty, & Gross, 2014).…”

Section: Mindful Self-compassionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mindful Self-Compassion: How it Can Enhance Resilience

Shattell

Johnson

2018

J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv

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The interventional effects of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions and interpersonal interactions

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors

A Positive Emotional-Based Meditation but Not Mindfulness-Based Meditation Improves Emotion Regulation

Mindful Self-Compassion: How it Can Enhance Resilience

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