Frequent loving kindness meditation relates to lower anxiety in long term practitioners through higher self compassion and cognitive flexibility.
José Ramón Yela, Jose Buz, Antonio L Crego, Luis Gregoris, Marta Alonso
Scientific Reports March 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-46387-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Experienced meditators |
| Intervention | Loving-Kindness Compassion Meditation |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Empathy Cognition Adult Middle aged Female Cognitive flexibility Psychological flexibility Self-compassion Cognitive fusion Long-term practice Anxiety treatment |
| Key findings | Years of Loving-Kindness Compassion Meditation practice were not directly associated with anxiety. The authors report that weekly practice frequency moderated the relationship between years of practice and self-compassion, and that self-compassion was associated with lower cognitive fusion, which in turn was associated with lower anxiety. They argue that practice consistency, rather than accumulated years, is pivotal. |
Abstract
Little is known about the variables influencing the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions among long-term practitioners. This study examined the association between Loving-Kindness Compassion Meditation (LKCM) practice and anxiety levels in 60 experienced meditators. We analyzed practice duration, frequency, self-compassion, and cognitive fusion. Results indicated no direct association between years of practice and anxiety. However, a moderated serial mediation model showed that the benefits are related to the frequency of practice. Weekly practice frequency moderated the relationship between years of meditation and self-compassion; furthermore, self-compassion was associated with lower cognitive fusion and this, in turn, with lower anxiety levels. Notably, high self-compassion was evident early in daily practitioners, whereas comparable levels were only observed in less frequent practitioners. These findings suggest that self-compassion and cognitive flexibility are critical components in prolonged meditation, highlighting the pivotal role of practice consistency over time.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cites 20
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators The Journal of Positive Psychology April 11, 2012
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- Increased gray matter volume in the right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri in loving-kindness meditators Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience July 18, 2012
- Zen meditation, Length of Telomeres, and the Role of Experiential Avoidance and Compassion Mindfulness February 22, 2016
and 15 more in the library