A Pilot Study of Loving-Kindness and Self-Compassion Meditation on Depressive Symptoms among People Living with HIV
Martaria Rizky Rinaldi, Katrim Alifa Putrikita, Abdul Kholiq Ismail
Gadjah Mada Journal of Professional Psychology (GamaJPP) March 30, 2026 DOI: 10.22146/gamajpp.113205 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 18 |
| Population | Individuals living with HIV |
| Intervention | Loving-Kindness and Self-Compassion Meditation (LKCM) |
| Duration | Two sessions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Depressive symptoms Depression economics Psychological intervention Intervention counseling Randomized controlled trial Clinical psychology Clinical trial |
| Key findings | Depressive symptoms decreased in both groups, with a greater reduction in the LKCM group, but between-group differences were not statistically significant. |
Abstract
Individuals living with HIV frequently experience elevated depressive symptoms due to chronic stress, stigma, and emotional burden. Compassion-based interventions such as Loving-Kindness and Self-Compassion Meditation (LKCM) have the potential to improve emotional well-being, yet evidence in HIV-positive populations remains limited. This study examined the preliminary effects of a brief Loving-Kindness and Self-Compassion Meditation (LKCM) intervention on depressive symptoms among individuals living with HIV. It was hypothesized that participants receiving LKCM would show greater reductions in depression than those in a control condition. Using a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design, 18 participants were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 10) that received a two-session LKCM intervention or a no-treatment control group (n = 8). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the DASS-21 depression subscale before and after the intervention. The results revealed significant reductions in depressive symptoms over time in both groups, with a greater magnitude of reduction in the LKCM group; however, between-group differences did not reach statistical significance. Effect size estimates indicated a pattern of greater within-group change in the LKCM group, without supporting conclusions regarding intervention-specific benefits. These findings provide preliminary evidence that LKCM may offer short-term psychological benefits for individuals living with HIV, although definitive conclusions regarding effectiveness cannot be drawn. Larger, adequately powered trials with extended follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings and clarify the potential role of LKCM as a depression management strategy in resource-limited settings.