Outcome Expectancies, Effects, and Mechanisms of Brief Training in Mindfulness Meditation vs. Loving-Kindness Meditation vs a Control Condition for Pain Management: A Randomized Pilot Study.
Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy September 1, 2024 Melissa A Day, Natasha Matthews, Jonathan N. Davies et al.
A single 20-minute session of mindfulness meditation or loving-kindness meditation reduced pain intensity more than an audiobook control in 100 adults with chronic or current problematic pain. Both meditation types produced medium effects on pain intensity (mindfulness d=0.41, loving-kindness d=0.38), while the control showed almost no change. Pain unpleasantness decreased only slightly across all conditions. Participants expected greater benefits from both meditations than from the control. Mindfulness increased mindful observing, and loving-kindness meditation increased self-compassion, but these changes did not explain the pain reductions. Pain type did not affect the results.