Loving kindness and compassion meditation, traditional Buddhist practices, have been incorporated into psychotherapy with encouraging outcomes. These practices cultivate metta, a mental state of positive energy and kindness toward oneself and others, countering anger, hostility, and self-loathing common in emotional disorders. A qualitative review of the literature suggests metta meditation is especially useful for treating depression and social anxiety, conditions marked by low positive affect and negative self-views. The practice may enhance therapy by fostering adaptive self-images, social connectedness, and positive emotional experiences, addressing shame and hostility while promoting self-acceptance.
International students experience more stress than local peers but rarely seek help due to stigma, language barriers, and lack of information. A culturally adapted online mindfulness intervention (StudiCareM-E) was tested in a randomized feasibility trial with 40 international university students. Half received the intervention, half were on a waitlist. After eight weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements in mindfulness, well-being, and anxiety compared to the waitlist group. No serious negative effects occurred, but dropout was high: 35% assessment dropout and 60% intervention dropout. Participant feedback suggested content improvements. The adapted intervention may help diverse international students, but future studies should carefully assess adaptation needs.