The effect of a 7‐day intensive Buddhist meditation on existential isolation, interpersonal isolation, and compassion among South Koreans
Journal of Applied Social Psychology September 1, 2023 Young Chin Park, Elizabeth C. Pinel
An intensive 7-day silent Zen meditation retreat reduced feelings of existential isolation and increased compassion focused on others, compared with a week-long vacation. In two studies, one with 65 Korean participants (35 meditators, 30 vacationers) and a replication with 75 TempleStay participants, the reduction in existential isolation statistically explained the rise in other-focused compassion. The findings suggest that intensive meditation practice may alleviate existential isolation and promote prosocial behavior.