Loving-kindness and walking meditation with a robot: Countering negative mood by stimulating creativity
Shiming Huang, Yoyo Wing Yiu Cheung, Johan F. Hoorn
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies July 8, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103107 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 142 |
| Population | Healthy young adults aged 18 to 34 |
| Interventions | Loving-kindness Meditation Walking Meditation |
| Duration | 10-minute intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Audio-guided Loving-kindness Meditation and Walking Meditation both increased state openness, and Loving-kindness Meditation also increased positive valence. Valence and state openness were positively correlated and both were associated with greater willingness to create; positive valence was linked to better convergent thinking. The authors suggest these changes may reduce negative mood. |
Abstract
Young adults undergoing psychological changes are particularly vulnerable. Recent social isolation impedes interpersonal help while stress from family, school, work, and society has brought negative effects on mental health, even in otherwise healthy young adults. Recent research has shown that daily creativity contributes to well-being. To circumvent issues of contamination, we tried a NAO robot guiding a Loving-kindness Meditation (LKM) and Walking Meditation (WM). By improving mental states (i.e. positive valence and state openness), we stimulated creative behavior to reduce negative mood. Participants (N = 142) were healthy individuals, aged between 18 and 34, joining a one-time laboratory experiment. They responded to two rounds of questionnaires, with a 10-minute intervention guided by audio or a NAO robot in between each round. A control group with participants with no treatment (i.e. taking a 10-minute rest) was added for comparison. Both audio-guided LKM and WM successfully evoked state openness, with the former also exerting a positive effect on valence. Valence and state openness were positively correlated, and both were associated with a higher willingness to create. With positive valence, young adults likely perform better on convergent thinking. The result may potentially lead to negative mood reduction. The discussion emphasizes the importance of designing specific characteristics of social robots in accordance with the task's context.
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
Cited by 3
- A Unifying Framework of Meditation Techniques Mindfulness February 1, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions in School Settings Teaching Methodologies in Asian and Pacific School Systems August 14, 2026
- RunMe: An Adaptive Sound System for Running Meditation ACM Trans. Comput. Hum. Interact. February 17, 2025
Cites 17
- 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
- The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology November 3, 2015
- How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology December 1, 2018
- Seeing it both ways: Openness to experience and binocular rivalry suppression Journal of Research in Personality March 21, 2017
and 12 more in the library