Interpersonal and Affect-Related Outcomes of Short-Term Targeted Loving-Kindness Meditation for Female Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Loving-kindness meditation (LKM), derived from a Buddhist practice focused on cultivating feelings of love towards others, has recently been found to be associated with immediate and long-term improvements in interpersonal and affect-related outcomes. Additionally, LKM can be targeted towards a particular individual to augment interpersonal outcomes specifically related to the targeted individual. As such, an LKM protocol targeting a close friend may be particularly beneficial for individuals in emerging adulthood, for whom close friendships serve an important function in identity formation and the fulfilment of intimacy needs. The aims of the current study were as follows: 1) to examine the interpersonal outcomes for short-term targeted LKM in female undergraduate students; 2) to investigate the affect-related outcomes of short-term targeted LKM in female undergraduate students; and 3) to conduct an exploratory mediation model investigating mechanisms of change for LKM. In the current study, 168 female undergraduate students completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires assessing interpersonal outcomes (i.e., other-inclusive self-concept, willingness to sacrifice, and interaction quality) and affect-related outcomes (i.e., positive affect, negative affect, anhedonic depressivity, and anxious arousal), separated by an intervening week of meditation practice targeting a close friend chosen at baseline; participants were randomly assigned to receive daily audio recordings of either LKM instructions (experimental condition) or neutral visualization instructions (control condition). Results indicated that: LKM was associated with increases in other-inclusive self-concept; LKM may protect against decreases in interaction quality associated with stress and isolation; and LKM is associated with decreased anhedonic depressivity. Further, an exploratory mediation model (controlling for baseline values) suggests that the relationship between LKM and decreased anhedonic depressivity is mediated by increases in other-inclusive self-concept. As such, an online distribution of short-term targeted LKM may be a low-cost and effective tool for improving social relationships and depressivity in emerging adults.