The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review
Xianglong Zeng, Cleo P. K. Chiu, Rong Wang, Tian P S Oei, Freedom Y K Leung
Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review with meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,759 |
| Population | Participants in empirical studies of loving-kindness meditation |
| Intervention | Loving-kindness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Meta-analysis Kindness Compassion Clinical psychology Empirical research Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 256 |
| Key findings | Loving-kindness meditation practice and interventions are effective in enhancing positive emotions, with medium effect sizes for daily positive emotions and small to large effect sizes for immediate positive emotions. |
Abstract
While it has been suggested that loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is an effective practice for promoting positive emotions, the empirical evidence in the literature remains unclear. Here, we provide a systematic review of 24 empirical studies (N = 1759) on LKM with self-reported positive emotions. The effect of LKM on positive emotions was estimated with meta-analysis, and the influence of variations across LKM interventions was further explored with subgroup analysis and meta-regression. The meta-analysis showed that (1) medium effect sizes for LKM interventions on daily positive emotions in both wait-list controlled RCTs and non-RCT studies; and (2) small to large effect sizes for the on-going practice of LKM on immediate positive emotions across different comparisons. Further analysis showed that (1) interventions focused on loving-kindness had medium effect size, but interventions focused on compassion showed small effect sizes; (2) the length of interventions and the time spent on meditation did not influence the effect sizes, but the studies without didactic components in interventions had small effect sizes. A few individual studies reported that the nature of positive emotions and individual differences also influenced the results. In sum, LKM practice and interventions are effective in enhancing positive emotions, but more studies are needed to identify the active components of the interventions, to compare different psychological operations, and to explore the applicability in clinical populations.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 114
- Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science PLoS One November 7, 2018
- Mindfulness in migraine: A narrative review Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics January 14, 2020
- Loving-Kindness Meditation Promotes Mental Health in University Students Mindfulness May 2, 2020
- The Effect of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Flight Attendants’ Spirituality, Mindfulness and Subjective Well-Being Healthcare June 16, 2020
- Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Doctors’ Mindfulness, Empathy, and Communication Skills International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 12, 2021
and 109 more in the library
Cites 22
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion October 1, 2008
- Effect of kindness-based meditation on health and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 30, 2014
- In search of durable positive psychology interventions: Predictors and consequences of long-term positive behavior change The Journal of Positive Psychology September 1, 2010
and 17 more in the library