Evaluating the immediate impacts of brief mindfulness versus lovingkindness meditation
Jamie Rae Forsyth
Scholars Archive - University at Albany 2016 DOI: 10.54014/6svc-tc1h (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 179 |
| Population | Undergraduate students, mostly novice meditators |
| Intervention | Lovingkindness meditation |
| Duration | One 15-minute meditation session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Both mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation were equally effective at decreasing anxiety and depressive cognitions and increasing self-compassion and mindfulness after one 15-minute session. The authors suggest breathing meditation may be more beneficial for novice meditators and that lovingkindness meditation may have the largest effect when taught after basic mindfulness technique. |
Abstract
Although meditation has been around for centuries, it’s only recently that the utility of such an ancient practice has gained popularity within Western psychology. A vast body of literature supports the notion that meditation can have important impacts on suffering and psychopathology; however, few studies have evaluated differential effects between various forms of meditation. The aims of this study are threefold: 1) to determine if a brief meditation can have immediate effects on an individuals’ mood, 2) to determine the validity of two different types of meditations (mindfulness and lovingkindness) and 3) to evaluate the differential efficacy of the two types of meditation, specifically, whether one is more effective than the other. 179 undergraduate students who were mostly novice meditators participated in the current study. Results demonstrated that both meditations were equally effective at decreasing anxiety and depressive cognitions after only one 15-minute meditation session. Additionally, both meditations demonstrated increases in self-reported self-compassion and mindfulness. Finally, it seems that breathing meditation may be more beneficial for novice meditators and that lovingkindness meditation may have the biggest effect when taught after one has been introduced to the basic mindfulness technique.
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 |