Attentional processes in brief mindfulness meditation and socio-affective responses to in-group and out-group suffering.
Gabriela Górska, Paweł Holas
Acta Psychologica June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106763 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 83 |
| Population | Participants |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 10-minute intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Compassion Intergroup bias Intergroup-empathy-bias Personal distress |
| Key findings | A brief mindfulness intervention did not significantly increase empathic distress or compassion overall, but participants reported significantly higher empathic distress and compassion toward out-group members. |
Abstract
Empathy and compassion often arise in response to others' suffering but can be inhibited when the sufferers represent out-groups. Mindfulness meditation may help counter these blocks by reducing distress and fostering compassionate responses. In this study, we tested whether a brief, 10-min mindfulness intervention could enhance empathic and compassionate reactions to in-group and out-group suffering. Eighty-three participants completed the Socio-affective Video Task (SoVT), rating eight videos depicting suffering. We compared the mindfulness audio recording condition to the active control matched in duration and linguistic structure. The mindfulness audio focused on breathing body sensations. It did not explicitly refer to compassion toward the self or others. The intervention did not significantly increase empathic distress or compassion. However, participants reported significantly higher empathic distress and compassion toward out-group members. Notably, the ability to focus on breathing-measured through a mindfulness state item-mediated significant effects of the intervention on ratings of compassion, relief, and distress. These findings highlight the potential role of attentional processes as proximal mechanisms through which brief mindfulness practices may influence social and affective responses. These findings should be considered preliminary and require replication in larger samples. We discuss implications for the design of mindfulness interventions, the measurement of state mindfulness, and the use of video-based paradigms in studying intergroup empathy and compassion.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 17
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
- Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Stress and Health March 15, 2010
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
and 12 more in the library