How does brief guided mindfulness meditation enhance empathic concern in novice meditators?: A pilot test of the suggestion hypothesis vs. the mindfulness hypothesis.

Two preliminary studies tested whether brief guided mindfulness meditation increases empathic concern because of verbal suggestion or because of the mindfulness state itself. A pilot randomized trial compared sitting (breath-and-body) meditation with compassion meditation, providing preliminary support for the mindfulness hypothesis. A second study ruled out repeated-measures effects by having an inactive control group undergo the same empathic-concern measures without meditation; no significant changes occurred. Together, the results support the mindfulness hypothesis over the suggestion hypothesis.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Despite the widespread popularity of mindfulness meditation for its various benefits, the mechanism underlying the meditation process has rarely been explored. Here, we present two preliminary studies designed to test alternative hypotheses: whether the effect of brief guided mindfulness meditation on empathic concern arises from verbal suggestion (suggestion hypothesis) or as a byproduct of an induced mindfulness state (mindfulness hypothesis). Study 1 was a pilot randomized control trial of sitting (breath-and-body) meditation vs. compassion meditation that provided preliminary support for the mindfulness hypothesis. Study 2 was set up to rule out the possibility that the meditation effects observed in Study 1 were the effects of repeated measures. An inactive control group of participants underwent the repeated measures of empathic concern with no meditation in between. The pre-post comparison demonstrated no significant changes in the measures. Thus, the results of two studies supported the mindfulness hypothesis. Limitations of the present study and future research directions are discussed.