A longitudinal study of loving-kindness compassion, mindfulness, and psychological well-being: Cross-cultural insights from Vietnamese and American employees.
Thi Minh Chau Ly, Khanh Huy Nguyen, Dong Phong Nguyen, An Khang Trinh, Mai Dong Tran
Acta Psychologica March 26, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106654 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 741 |
| Population | Employees in Vietnam (386) and the United States (355) |
| Duration | One-month period |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Longitudinal studies Adaptation, psychological Empathy Interpersonal relations Cross-cultural comparison Adult Middle aged United states Vietnam Female Psychological well-being Coping skills Intrinsic motivation Self-acceptance Relationship maintenance Lovingkiness-compassion |
| Key findings | Loving-kindness compassion showed positive time-lagged associations with proactive coping, relationship-maintenance behaviors, and psychological well-being in both Vietnamese and American employees. Self-acceptance partially mediated these effects while intrinsic motivation did not, and mindfulness moderated the benefits. The authors argue compassion-based practices can serve as a culturally adaptable pathway to employee well-being. |
Abstract
This two-wave longitudinal study investigates how loving-kindness compassion is associated with employees' psychological well-being through intrinsic motivation and self-acceptance, and how these organismic states are linked to proactive coping and relationship-maintenance behaviors. Data were collected over a one-month period. Data from 386 Vietnamese employees and 355 American respondents indicate positive time-lagged relationships among loving-kindness compassion, proactive coping, relationship-maintenance behaviors, and psychological well-being in both cultural contexts. Self-acceptance, but not intrinsic motivation, serves as a partial mediator of these effects, while mindfulness further moderates the benefits. The findings highlight the longitudinal associations among compassion and relational behaviors for well-being and underscore the importance of culturally sensitive interventions. Taken together, these findings highlight the role of compassion, mindfulness, and relational behaviors in sustaining psychological well-being across time and cultures. By demonstrating these longitudinal effects, the study provides robust evidence that compassion-based practices can serve as a universal, yet culturally adaptable, pathway to employee well-being. These findings offer practical guidance for organizations to promote sustainable employee well-being through culturally sensitive compassion- and mindfulness-based initiatives that support self-acceptance and relational behaviors.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Effect of kindness-based meditation on health and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 30, 2014
- Mindfulness meditation reduces guilt and prosocial reparation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology December 23, 2021
- Defining Mindfulness: A Review of Existing Definitions and Suggested Refinements Mindfulness 2025
- The effect of a 7‐day intensive Buddhist meditation on existential isolation, interpersonal isolation, and compassion among South Koreans Journal of Applied Social Psychology September 1, 2023
and 3 more in the library