Buddhist Meditation and Positive Psychology: Cultivating Happiness, Gratitude, and Life Satisfaction
Nguyen Thi Nhien Trang, Le Hong Linh
Iconic Research and Engineering Journals May 25, 2026 DOI: 10.64388/irev9i11-1718136 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental (nonrandomized) with wait-list control Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 85 |
| Population | Adult participants from Vietnam aged 18-45 |
| Duration | Intervention period not specified; follow-up at 3 months post-intervention |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Gratitude Happiness Life satisfaction Positive psychology Subjective well-being Intervention counseling Qualitative research Clinical psychology Contemplation Qualitative property Group cohesiveness Buddhist philosophy Psychotherapist Mindfulness meditation |
| Key findings | Buddhist meditation practices significantly improved life satisfaction, subjective happiness, and gratitude compared to a control group, with gains largely retained at 3 months. |
Abstract
Buddhist meditation practices, like mindfulness (sati) and metta bhavana, have become increasingly valued in Positive Psychology as methods for improving human flourishing. This research investigates the impact of Buddhist meditation practices on happiness, gratitude and life satisfaction. A mixed methods quasi experimental design was used with 85 adult participants from Vietnam (18 45 years). Participants were assigned to groups through a quasi-experimental (nonrandom) procedure: an intervention group (n = 43) and a wait list control group (n = 42). Quantitative measures of life satisfaction (SWLS), subjective happiness (SHS), and gratitude (GQ 6) were administered before and after the intervention, and 3 months later. Qualitative data were drawn from interviews and reflective journals. Participants in the meditation group experienced significant gains in life satisfaction (p <.001, Cohen's d = 0.89), subjective happiness (p <.001, Cohen's d = 0.76), and gratitude (p <.01, Cohen's d = 0.65) compared to control. The results of all 3 measures were relatively retained 3 months after the intervention. Analysis of the themes also showed that participants reported improved present moment awareness, increased self-compassion, healthier emotional regulation and a greater sense of interconnectedness. Overall, findings show that Buddhist meditation practices provide efficacious, evidence-based techniques that can further enhance the benefits of Positive Psychology practices. This study adds to the emerging studies on contemplative science research and supports the universality of Buddhist meditation practices in non-Western cultures.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxytocin Release during the Meditation of Altruism and Appreciation (Arigato-Zen) 32 participants providing saliva samples before and after Arigato-Zen practice | 2018 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 32 |
| Zen Den: A Novel Approach to Promote Well-Being in the Workplace. Nurses at an academic level 1 trauma center in Hawaii | 2024 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 92 |
| State mindfulness, hope, and ikigai before and after crafting an amulet in a field study at a Zen temple in Kyoto Visitors to a Zen temple in Kyoto who participated in the Yuwai-mamori amulet-making... | 2026 | Qualitative and single-group pre-post field study | n = 426 |
| Effects of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Zen Retreat on Affect and Well-Being in Healthcare Workers Health professionals (retreat n=120; control n=92) | 2026 | Nonrandomized controlled study | n = 212 |
| Buddhist-like opposite diminishing and non-judging during ketamine infusion are associated with antidepressant response: an open-label personalized-dosing study. Patients suffering from depression | 2022 | Open-label outpatient study | n = 11 |