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Petrovic J, Mettler J, Cho S, Heath NL. The effects of loving-kindness interventions on positive and negative mental health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2024; 110:102433. [PMID: 38652973 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Loving-kindness meditations involve sending feelings of kindness and care to a series of people including oneself, loved ones, strangers, and all beings. Loving-kindness interventions (LKIs), which include knowledge and/or practice related to loving-kindness, have been gaining attention as a potential intervention for improving mental health in adults. This meta-analysis synthesized the effects of LKIs on both positive (i.e., mindfulness, compassion, positive affect) and negative (i.e., negative affect, psychological symptoms) indices of mental health across comparison types (i.e., passive control, active control, alternative treatment) and general sample types (i.e., community, university), and explored characteristics of LKIs that may impact their effectiveness (i.e., intervention format, intervention length, presence/absence of a live facilitator). Following a systematic review of six databases in November 2023, 23 randomized controlled studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Relative to passive control groups, LKIs had positive effects on mindfulness, compassion, positive affect, negative affect, and psychological symptoms; these effects were non-significant relative to active control groups and alternative therapeutic treatments. Notably, the effects of LKIs did not differ as a function of sample type, intervention format, intervention length, or the presence/absence of a live facilitator. Findings provide support for the effectiveness of LKIs relative to passive control conditions, as well as their potential comparability to alternative evidence-based therapeutic treatments, and provide insight into resource-effective approaches to the delivery of effective LKIs. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the impacts of LKIs relative to other interventions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Petrovic
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP), McGill University, Canada.
| | | | - Sohyun Cho
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP), McGill University, Canada
| | - Nancy L Heath
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP), McGill University, Canada
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Xie Q, Riordan KM, Baldwin SA, Simonsson O, Hirshberg MJ, Dahl CJ, Nahum-Shani I, Davidson RJ, Goldberg SB. Is informal practice associated with outcomes in loving-kindness and compassion training? Evidence from pre-post and daily diary assessments. Behav Res Ther 2024; 177:104537. [PMID: 38608409 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
We investigated whether informal meditation practice (i.e., self-reported application of meditative techniques outside a period of formal meditation) was associated with outcomes in smartphone-based loving-kindness and compassion training. Meditation-naïve participants (n = 351) with clinically elevated symptoms completed measures of psychological distress, loneliness, empathy, and prosociality at baseline and following a two-week intervention. Informal practice, psychological distress, and loneliness were also assessed daily. Steeper increases in informal practice had small associations with pre-post improvements in distress (r = -.18, p = .008) and loneliness (r = -.19, p = .009) but not empathy or prosociality. Using a currently recommended approach for establishing cross-lagged effects in longitudinal data (latent curve model with structured residuals), higher current-day informal practice was associated with decreased next-day distress with a very small effect size (βs = -.06 to -.04, p = .018) but not decreased next-day loneliness. No cross-lagged associations emerged from distress or loneliness to informal practice. Findings suggest that further investigation into a potential causal role of informal practice is warranted. Future studies experimentally manipulating informal practice are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Xie
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kevin M Riordan
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Scott A Baldwin
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Otto Simonsson
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Cortland J Dahl
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Healthy Minds Innovations Inc, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Inbal Nahum-Shani
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Richard J Davidson
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Simon B Goldberg
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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Hao J, Liu C, Feng S, Luo J. Imagination-Based Loving-Kindness and Compassion Meditation: A New Meditation Method Developed from Chinese Buddhism. J Relig Health 2022; 61:2753-2769. [PMID: 34460022 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01409-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many loving-kindness and compassion meditation methods used in psychological research are derived from Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism. Zhiyi (), a representative figure of Chinese Buddhism, proposed a different meditation method, namely, imagination-based loving-kindness and compassion meditation. The current article introduces the imagination-based loving-kindness and compassion meditation proposed by Zhiyi and compares it with meditation methods from Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism. Zhiyi's method limits the content of imagination during meditation, which can be an essential supplement to the free association method derived from Theravada Buddhism. Zhiyi's method of helping others entirely through imagination differs significantly from the tonglen method derived from Tibetan Buddhism and may be more suitable for participants without religious beliefs. Based on Zhiyi's source text and previous psychological studies, a mental-health training program for imagination-based loving-kindness and compassion meditation is proposed. The limitations of Zhiyi's method and the future directions for empirical research on Zhiyi's method are also discussed. The differences between Zhiyi's method and other methods in terms of effects and applicable populations need to be examined in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Hao
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chang Liu
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shaozhen Feng
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Luo
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
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Zheng Y, Zhou J, Zeng X, Jiang M, Oei TPS. A New Second-Generation Mindfulness-Based Intervention Focusing on Well-Being: A Randomized Control Trial of Mindfulness-Based Positive Psychology. J Happiness Stud 2022; 23:2703-2724. [PMID: 35399579 PMCID: PMC8976107 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00525-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Second-generation mindfulness-based interventions (SG-MBIs) align well with positive psychology philosophy and practices, but trials of SG-MBIs have largely focused on ill-being. This study developed a mindfulness-based positive psychology (MBPP) intervention integrating positive psychology with an SG-MBI to enhance well-being. A randomized control trial was performed to compare MBPP with a waitlist condition among 138 Chinese participants. The results showed that MBPP significantly reduced negative emotions for subjective well-being and significantly improved environmental mastery for psychological well-being. Improvements in self-compassion and negative attitudes but not avoidance, mediated changes in well-being. Changes in positive emotions, positive relations, and awareness were associated with the amount of meditation practice. These findings showed that MBPP is promising for improving well-being and that the positive psychology components play important roles. Broadly, the study illustrated that positive psychology and SG-MBIs can be effectively integrated, and it supported the further application of SG-MBIs from the positive psychology perspective. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-022-00525-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingyi Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianglong Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingyan Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tian P. S. Oei
- School of Psychology and CBT Unit, Toowong Hospital, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
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Lv J, Liu Q, Zeng X, Oei TPS, Liu Y, Xu K, Sun W, Hou H, Liu J. The effect of four Immeasurables meditations on depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2020; 76:101814. [PMID: 31945711 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The Four Immeasurables Meditations (FIM) intervention have been shown as a promising intervention for reducing depressive symptoms. The current study is a systematic review of FIM intervention effects on depressive symptoms. Among 192 empirical research articles on FIM published before May 2019, 40 independent trials from 35 records measured depressive symptoms. The meta-analysis included 21 randomized controlled trials (RCT; n = 1468) and 16 uncontrolled trials (n = 376). The results supported overall effectiveness of FIM on depressive symptoms (d = 0.38 for RCT and d = 0.87 for uncontrolled trials). Moderator analysis indicated the effects differed across protocols, and effects were smaller in RCT using active control groups. No significant differences were observed for participant type, measures, intervention length, or intervention components. Individual studies found no direct association between meditation practice time and effects, and mindfulness and self-compassion were widely supported as mechanisms of change. Current evidence supports FIM as an effective intervention for reducing depressive symptoms, but additional studies with more rigorous designs using active control groups are needed. Further investigation should be encouraged regarding specific protocols and participants, the contribution of meditation practice, and other mechanisms such as positive emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lv
- Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Qiuling Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xianglong Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Tian P S Oei
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Yidan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Kexin Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Wenxiang Sun
- Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, PR China
| | - Hanchao Hou
- Centre for Positive Psychology, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jing Liu
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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