FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF A LOVING-KINDNESS MEDITATION AMONG SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE OLDER ADULTS
Innovation in Aging December 21, 2023 Nirmala Lekhak, Tirth Bhatta, Carolyn Streb et al.
A loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention was feasible and acceptable among socioeconomically diverse older adults. In a waiting list control design with 59 participants, 54 completed the intervention. All participants rated the practice as good or better. Acceptability scores averaged 16.8 out of a possible 4-20 range, and feasibility scores averaged 12.9 out of 3-15. Those who meditated daily reported reduced anxiety and enhanced self-awareness. The findings suggest that LKM is a promising practice for promoting self-compassion and reducing loneliness in older adults, though larger-scale studies with more music and silence are needed.