Innate immune, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress do not predict subsequent compassion meditation practice time.
Psychoneuroendocrinology February 1, 2010 Thaddeus W W Pace, Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Teresa I Sivilli et al.
This study tested whether stress responses before compassion meditation training predict how much people practice. In 32 healthy young adults, responses to a stress test (Trier Social Stress Test) before training did not predict later meditation practice time, whether measured continuously or by high/low practice groups. This contrasts with the authors' earlier study, where practice time related to stress responses after training. The authors argue this supports the idea that compassion meditation itself, rather than pre-existing stress reactivity, may reduce stress-related physiological and behavioral responses in those who practice.