The effects of short video app-guided loving-kindness meditation on college students' mindfulness, self-compassion, positive psychological capital, and suicide ideation.
Chao Liu, Hao Chen, Ayuan Zhang, XiaoGang Gong, Kan Wu, Chia-Yih Liu, Wen-Ko Chiou
Psicologia, reflexao e critica : revista semestral do Departamento de Psicologia da UFRGS October 30, 2023 DOI: 10.1186/s41155-023-00276-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 74 |
| Population | College students from a university in China |
| Intervention | Short video app guided loving-kindness meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Loving-kindness meditation Positive psychological capital Self-compassion Short video app Suicide ideation |
| Key findings | Short video app guided loving-kindness meditation significantly increased self-compassion and positive psychological capital and reduced suicide ideation in college students. |
Abstract
The study investigated the effects of a short video app guided loving-kindness meditation (LKM) on college students' mindfulness, self-compassion, positive psychological capital, and suicide ideation. The purpose of the study is to investigate the intervention effect of LKM training on suicidal ideation among college students with the help of the short video application and to provide an empirical basis for the exploration of early suicide intervention strategies for college students. We recruited 80 college students from a university in China. The final 74 eligible participants were divided into two groups: app use group (n = 37) and the control group (n = 37). The app group accepted an 8-week app use interference, while the control group underwent no interference. We measured four major variable factors (mindfulness, self-compassion, positive psychological capital, and suicide ideation) before and after the app use intervention. In the app group, self-compassion and positive psychological capital were significantly higher, and suicide ideation was significantly lower than the control group. In the control group, there were no noticeable differences in any of the four variables between the pre-test and post-test. Our findings demonstrate that the short video app guided LKM may help to improve self-compassion, and positive psychological capital, and reduce suicide ideation. The finding of the short video app-guided LKM's effect extends our understanding of the integrative effects of positive psychology and digital media on the reduction of suicide ideation.
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
Cited by 9
- The Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation Guided by Short Video Apps on Policemen's Mindfulness, Public Service Motivation, Conflict Resolution Skills, and Communication Skills. Behavioral Sciences July 4, 2025
- Effects of Short Video App Guided Mindfulness Meditation on Policemen's Communication Anxiety, PTSD, Anger Management, and Mood Disorders. Healthcare May 21, 2025
- Procrastination and online social anxiety: the mediating role of cognitive overload and the moderating influence of mindfulness Frontiers in Public Health January 27, 2026
- How Practice Differences Shape Participant Experience in Second-Generation Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Qualitative Study of Non-Buddhist University Students Mindfulness October 9, 2026
- Practicing Loving-Kindness Meditation to Promote Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Study of Doctoral Students' Experience International journal of doctoral studies 2025
and 4 more in the library
Cites 24
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology December 11, 2018
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- Self-Compassion When Coping With Venture Obstacles: Loving-Kindness Meditation and Entrepreneurial Fear of Failure Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice December 16, 2019
- Compassion and Loving-Kindness Meditation: An Overview and Prospects for the Application in Clinical Samples Harvard Review of Psychiatry July 1, 2018
and 19 more in the library