Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress.
Psychoneuroendocrinology January 1, 2009 Thaddeus W W Pace, Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Daniel D Adame et al.
Training in compassion meditation for six weeks did not, on average, reduce stress-induced inflammation, cortisol, or distress compared to a health discussion control group. However, among those who meditated more, greater practice time was linked to smaller increases in the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 and lower self-reported distress after a standardized stress test. People who meditated above the median amount showed less stress reactivity than those who meditated less or were in the control group. The findings suggest that regularly engaging in compassion meditation may dampen immune and emotional responses to stress, but more research is needed to confirm this link.