Assessing the effect of Loving-Kindness Meditation on pain and social well-being using a randomized controlled trial design.
Olivia Young, Katherine O'Connell, Naomi Nero, Melinda C Somers, Paige A Freeburg, Mary Ann Dutton, Abigail A Marsh
PLoS One September 16, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0357888 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with stratified block randomization and a double-blind baseline session Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 69 |
| Population | General, healthy adult population |
| Intervention | Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) |
| Duration | 4-week online training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Double-blind method Social support Adult Middle aged Female Pain management |
| Registration | NCT04632875 |
| Key findings | Contrary to the authors' hypotheses, progressive muscle relaxation increased perceived social support relative to loving-kindness meditation, and neither meditation practice reduced subjective pain or increased acute pain tolerance over time. The authors suggest early COVID-19 social restrictions and elevated stress may have constrained social connection and influenced these results. |
Abstract
Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), a contemplative practice that aims to promote social well-being, has also been linked to lower self-reported pain symptoms. However, it remains unknown whether LKM can reduce pain through having a positive impact on social well-being, as well as whether LKM can improve self-reported acute pain and objectively measured acute pain tolerance among a general, healthy population. In this study (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04632875), participants (n = 69) completed either a 4-week online LKM training or an active control meditation training (Progressive Muscle Relaxation; PMR), followed by a novel, remote pain induction task: the wall sit test administered over video conference. This study used a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial design with stratified block randomization and a double-blind baseline session. We hypothesized that, relative to the PMR active control, LKM would improve social well-being, reduce subjective pain reports, and improve acute pain tolerance. Contrary to our hypotheses, the PMR active control training increased perceived social support relative to LKM (p = .028), and neither meditation decreased subjective pain or increased acute pain tolerance over time. Our data were collected during the unique circumstance of the early COVID-19 pandemic, and it is important to interpret our results with consideration of widespread restrictions on in-person social contact and elevated stress during this period. This context may have constrained participants' opportunities for social connection and influenced reports of social support and pain. Nevertheless, our findings add to the current understanding of how meditation, social wellness, and pain may be related.
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
Cites 25
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion October 1, 2008
- 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
and 20 more in the library