The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review
While it has been suggested that loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is an effective practice for promoting positive emotions, the empirical evidence in the literature remains unclear. Here, we provide a systematic review of 24 empirical studies (N = 1759) on LKM with self-reported positive emotions. T...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693/full |
| _version_ | 1818164274969706496 |
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| author | Xianglong eZENG Pui Kwan eCHIU Rong eWANG Tian PS OEI Tian PS OEI Tian PS OEI Freedom YK LEUNG |
| author_facet | Xianglong eZENG Pui Kwan eCHIU Rong eWANG Tian PS OEI Tian PS OEI Tian PS OEI Freedom YK LEUNG |
| author_sort | Xianglong eZENG |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While it has been suggested that loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is an effective practice for promoting positive emotions, the empirical evidence in the literature remains unclear. Here, we provide a systematic review of 24 empirical studies (N = 1759) on LKM with self-reported positive emotions. The effect of LKM on positive emotions was estimated with meta-analysis, and the influence of variations across LKM interventions was further explored with subgroup analysis and meta-regression. The meta-analysis showed that (1) medium effect sizes for LKM interventions on daily positive emotions in both wait-list controlled RCTs and non-RCT studies; and (2) small to large effect sizes for the on-going practice of LKM on immediate positive emotions across different comparisons. Further analysis showed that (1) interventions focused on loving-kindness had medium effect size, but interventions focused on compassion showed small effect sizes; (2) the length of interventions and the time spent on meditation did not influence the effect sizes, but the studies without didactic components in interventions had small effect sizes. A few individual studies reported that the nature of positive emotions and individual differences also influenced the results. In sum, LKM practice and interventions are effective in enhancing positive emotions, but more studies are needed to identify the active components of the interventions, to compare different psychological operations, and to explore the applicability in clinical populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:02:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a655811204845fbaa9df52514cdf47b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:02:52Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a655811204845fbaa9df52514cdf47b2022-12-22T00:57:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782015-11-01610.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693166971The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic reviewXianglong eZENG0Pui Kwan eCHIU1Rong eWANG2Tian PS OEI3Tian PS OEI4Tian PS OEI5Freedom YK LEUNG6The Chinese University of Hong KongThe Chinese University of Hong KongNanjing Forestry UniversityUniversity of QueenslandJames Cook University SingaporeNanjing UniversityThe Chinese University of Hong KongWhile it has been suggested that loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is an effective practice for promoting positive emotions, the empirical evidence in the literature remains unclear. Here, we provide a systematic review of 24 empirical studies (N = 1759) on LKM with self-reported positive emotions. The effect of LKM on positive emotions was estimated with meta-analysis, and the influence of variations across LKM interventions was further explored with subgroup analysis and meta-regression. The meta-analysis showed that (1) medium effect sizes for LKM interventions on daily positive emotions in both wait-list controlled RCTs and non-RCT studies; and (2) small to large effect sizes for the on-going practice of LKM on immediate positive emotions across different comparisons. Further analysis showed that (1) interventions focused on loving-kindness had medium effect size, but interventions focused on compassion showed small effect sizes; (2) the length of interventions and the time spent on meditation did not influence the effect sizes, but the studies without didactic components in interventions had small effect sizes. A few individual studies reported that the nature of positive emotions and individual differences also influenced the results. In sum, LKM practice and interventions are effective in enhancing positive emotions, but more studies are needed to identify the active components of the interventions, to compare different psychological operations, and to explore the applicability in clinical populations.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693/fullBuddhismMeditationcompassionpositive emotionLoving-kindnessFour Immeasurables |
| spellingShingle | Xianglong eZENG Pui Kwan eCHIU Rong eWANG Tian PS OEI Tian PS OEI Tian PS OEI Freedom YK LEUNG The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review Frontiers in Psychology Buddhism Meditation compassion positive emotion Loving-kindness Four Immeasurables |
| title | The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review |
| title_full | The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review |
| title_fullStr | The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review |
| title_short | The effect of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: a meta-analytic review |
| title_sort | effect of loving kindness meditation on positive emotions a meta analytic review |
| topic | Buddhism Meditation compassion positive emotion Loving-kindness Four Immeasurables |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01693/full |
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