Painfully Cold: Effects of a Loving-Kindness Meditation on Cold Pressor Task Performance and Empathic Responses
Ryan A. Robertson, Evangeline A. Wheeler, Stephanie B Lietzau
October 26, 2020 preprint DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/h5dk9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 71 |
| Population | Participants |
| Intervention | Loving-kindness meditation |
| Duration | 6-minute meditation induction, single session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Loving-kindness meditation, but not mindfulness relaxation, increased pleasure during a cold pressor task, and neither meditation affected pain tolerance, threshold, or reactivity. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation is sometimes taught as an adjunct to pain management techniques, but scant research has examined the mechanisms by which it works. We compared the effects of different types of meditation (i.e., mindfulness relaxation vs. loving-kindness) on pain tolerance and pain threshold, pain reactivity, self-reported pain levels, and pleasure during a cold pressor task. Furthermore, we explored how empathy levels may differ after a short-term meditation induction, since differences in empathy affect perception of pain. A sample of 71 participants was randomly assigned to receive one of two 6-minute meditation inductions before submerging their hand in ice-cold water. Results indicated no effect of condition on pain tolerance, threshold, or pain reactivity. However, participants in the loving-kindness meditation group reported greater pleasure than those in the mindfulness group. Moreover, empathy levels did not alter after induction, and did not have a significant role in pain management. Results are discussed in terms of how empathy affects pain perception and pain management.
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 |