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Malaktaris A, McLean CL, Casmar P, Kangas J, Myers H, Chu G, Phillips RC, Maglione JE, Palmer BW, Lang AJ. Compassion Meditation for Distressed Older Veterans: A Feasibility Study. Clin Gerontol 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38409790 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2322056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older Veterans are at elevated risk for psychological distress and may encounter barriers to accessing mental health services. Compassion Meditation (CM) promotes positive emotions and outcomes among distressed individuals; thus, we conducted a preliminary feasibility study of CM among distressed older Veterans. METHODS Participants included 25 Veterans aged 55+ (M = 69.0, SD = 10.6) with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, recruited from primary care, mostly male (76.0%), and White (60.0%). CM consisted of 10 groups, which were transitioned from in-person to telehealth due to COVID-19. Feasibility indices included rates of intervention initiation and completion, and attendance. Participants completed measures of symptom severity and well-being pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS Of 25 enrolled participants, 88.0% (n = 22) attended at least one session, and 52% (n = 13) completed the intervention (attended six or more sessions). Among intervention completers, the average number of sessions attended was 9.46. Seven Veterans withdrew from intervention due to difficulties engaging via telehealth. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the feasibility of CM training in older Veterans with psychological distress, though dropouts highlighted potential need for additional strategies to facilitate telehealth participation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Older Veterans appear amenable to meditation-based practices, provided they are easy to access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Malaktaris
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Caitlin L McLean
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Pollyanna Casmar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Julie Kangas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Hayley Myers
- Department of Psychology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Gage Chu
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Rachel C Phillips
- Department of Psychology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jeanne E Maglione
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Barton W Palmer
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Ariel J Lang
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
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Wang R, Gu X, Zhang Y, Luo K, Zeng X. Loving-kindness and compassion meditations in the workplace: A meta-analysis and future prospects. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3273. [PMID: 37221984 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKCM) have been well applied among employees to improve their health and well-being. Existing studies on LKCM have also provided supportive evidence of its benefits and effectiveness under organizational contexts. The current meta-analytical study aimed to systematically summarise the effects of LKCM in the workplace and to outline directions for future research and practice. Among 327 empirical studies on LKCM published until March 2022, 21 trials focussed on employees and provided sufficient information, which were included in the following meta-analysis. The results showed that LKCM benefited eight categories of workplace outcomes. Specifically, LKCM effectively decreased employees' burnout (g = 0.395, k = 10) and stress (g = 0.544, k = 10) and facilitated their mindfulness (g = 0.558, k = 14), self-compassion (g = 0.646, k = 12), personal mental health (g = 0.308, k = 13), job attitudes (g = 0.283, k = 4), interpersonal relationships (g = 0.381, k = 12), and psychological resources (g = 0.406, k = 6). The results of moderation analyses further indicated that the participants' job type, gender, and the focus of LKCM might differentially fluctuate the magnitude of LKCM effects. To advance research and best practice, we finally pointed out several issues that deserve attention, such as long-term effects, underlying mechanisms, potential moderators, and outcomes or influential factors at the organizational level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaodan Gu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Kangzhou Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianglong Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Gu X, Luo W, Zhao X, Chen Y, Zheng Y, Zhou J, Zeng X, Yan L, Chen Y, Zhang X, Lv J, Lang Y, Wang Z, Gao C, Jiang Y, Li R. The effects of loving-kindness and compassion meditation on life satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2022; 14:1081-1101. [PMID: 35532366 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKCM) was a promising intervention for improving life satisfaction, but previous findings have been inconsistent. The current study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis, including 23 empirical studies on LKCM with life satisfaction as an outcome variable. The primary meta-analysis indicated that LKCM significantly enhanced life satisfaction in pre-post design (g = 0.312, k = 15, n = 451), but the significance disappeared in the additional meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (g = 0.106, k = 6, n = 404). Moderator analyses found significant effects for type of control (i.e., the effects of LKCM were inferior to active control group, but superior to waitlist condition), but not for other moderators (i.e., participant type, previous meditation experience, specific protocol, components of LKCM, combination with mindfulness mediation, and intervention length). Narrative review identified self-compassion and positive emotions as important mediators. The practice time of LKCM had indirect but not direct association with life satisfaction. The findings supported that LKCM is promising in increasing life satisfaction, but more studies are needed to investigate the effects with more rigorous designs. Future studies should investigate other potential mechanisms and clarify whether LKCM change the reality or the perception of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Gu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenting Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinran Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyi Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianglong Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Luyi Yan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifei Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuqing Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Lv
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongqi Lang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zilin Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenyu Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanchen Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Runze Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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