Am J Orthopsychiatry

ISSN 0002-9432; 1939-0025;

2 papers in the library · publishing 2025-2026

Papers

"May we be the bridge and boat to cross the water": Community-engaged research on metta meditation.

Am J Orthopsychiatry January 9, 2025 Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Shah Noor Hussein, Jessica M. Harrison et al.

A community-based loving-kindness meditation program helped diverse LGBTQ+ adults build belonging, compassion, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants reported that the practice supported them in coping with both personal stressors and structural oppression. Three main themes emerged: the community of practice fostered belonging; metta meditation cultivated compassion and equanimity; and the practice helped navigate harmful situations. The findings suggest that community spaces designed for belonging can connect contemplative practice with social change efforts.

DOI: 10.1037/ort0000823 Compassion practice Benevolent meditation Mindfulness of love Communal health +8

Bridging inner work and social change: Reimagining mindfulness research through the mindful tree of justice framework.

Am J Orthopsychiatry January 1, 2026

A theoretical paper proposes the mindful tree of justice framework to bridge inner work (mindfulness, self-awareness) with social change. It argues that mindfulness research has often focused on individual well-being while neglecting systemic injustice, and reimagines how contemplative practices can be integrated with social justice efforts. The framework uses the metaphor of a tree to connect personal transformation (roots) with collective action (branches), suggesting that mindfulness can both support individual healing and motivate engagement with structural inequality.

DOI: 10.1037/ort0000913