Laboratory Study on Physiological and Psychological Responses to Meditation in Friendships
Mattis Nuding
Open Mind 2026 preprint DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/zy85v (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Population | Non-clinical dyads of friends |
| Intervention | Dyadic compassion meditation |
| Measures | heart rate variability, electrodermal skin conductance, relationship quality, closeness, mindfulness, compassion, meditation experience, interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation, affect |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | This is a study protocol, so no results are reported. The planned design will test whether dyadic compassion meditation, compared to a video control, improves heart rate variability, affect, and social closeness after negative emotion induction. |
Abstract
We are conducting a conceptual replication study of a recent study at Heidelberg University (Schültke et al., 2024). The aim of the study is to examine the effects of dyadic compassion meditation on heart rate variability (HRV), affect, and social closeness in friendships, to expand the evidence base for the use of dyadic meditation in therapy and in non-clinical contexts. The sample consists of non-clinical dyads of friends. After random assignment to one of three groups, following the induction of negative emotions the dyads will either engage in compassion meditation together (meditation group) or they will watch a video (control group). Heart rate data will be collected using EEG, Electrodermal skin conductance will be measured using EDA electrodes, along with demographic information and data on heart rate control variables, relationship quality, closeness, mindfulness, compassion, meditation experience, interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation, and affect. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Mannheim. Reference Schültke, L., Warth, M., Alpers, G. W., Ditzen, B., & Aguilar-Raab, C. (2024). Better together than alone? Investigating dyadic compassion meditation in an experimental study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41(1), 91–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231205452
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 |