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Does brief compassion meditation increase positive affect and social connectedness?

Korman, Miriam LU and Åström, Ann Helén (2016) PSPT02 20161
Department of Psychology
Abstract
Compassion meditation (CM) has shown promising effects on well-being and pro-social behaviour. The current study tested the hypotheses that a 10-minute CM would increase levels of Positive Affect (PA) and Social Connectedness (SC) more than a Passive Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PPMR) exercise, of similar length. We also hypothesized that the effects would differ depending on individual differences in Self-compassion, PA at baseline, Meditation-associated Expectations, and previous Meditation Experience (previous-ME). To test these hypotheses, a quasi-experimental, 2 (Order of Intervention: CMfirst or PPMRfirst) x 3 (Type of Intervention: No intervention, CM and PPMR) mixed between-within design, was used. Participants (N=38) either... (More)
Compassion meditation (CM) has shown promising effects on well-being and pro-social behaviour. The current study tested the hypotheses that a 10-minute CM would increase levels of Positive Affect (PA) and Social Connectedness (SC) more than a Passive Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PPMR) exercise, of similar length. We also hypothesized that the effects would differ depending on individual differences in Self-compassion, PA at baseline, Meditation-associated Expectations, and previous Meditation Experience (previous-ME). To test these hypotheses, a quasi-experimental, 2 (Order of Intervention: CMfirst or PPMRfirst) x 3 (Type of Intervention: No intervention, CM and PPMR) mixed between-within design, was used. Participants (N=38) either received CM before PPMR, or PPMR before CM. Contrary to previous research on Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), no effects of CM on PA and SC were found. There was, however, a decrease on PA after PPMR in the experimental condition where PPMR was implemented after CM. A decrease discussed in terms of a lowering of activated positive affects or intensity of affect. Correlational analyses found significant relationships between: baseline PA and change in PA-scores after CM; previous-ME and change in SC-scores after CM; and Meditation-associated Expectations and Experience of the meditation (CM-experience). Further research should continue delineation of CM from LKM. (Less)
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author
Korman, Miriam LU and Åström, Ann Helén
supervisor
organization
course
PSPT02 20161
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
Compassion Meditation, social connectedness, positive affect, meditation-associated expectations, previous meditation experience
language
English
id
8881748
date added to LUP
2016-06-16 09:25:40
date last changed
2016-06-16 09:25:40
@misc{8881748,
  abstract     = {{Compassion meditation (CM) has shown promising effects on well-being and pro-social behaviour. The current study tested the hypotheses that a 10-minute CM would increase levels of Positive Affect (PA) and Social Connectedness (SC) more than a Passive Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PPMR) exercise, of similar length. We also hypothesized that the effects would differ depending on individual differences in Self-compassion, PA at baseline, Meditation-associated Expectations, and previous Meditation Experience (previous-ME). To test these hypotheses, a quasi-experimental, 2 (Order of Intervention: CMfirst or PPMRfirst) x 3 (Type of Intervention: No intervention, CM and PPMR) mixed between-within design, was used. Participants (N=38) either received CM before PPMR, or PPMR before CM. Contrary to previous research on Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), no effects of CM on PA and SC were found. There was, however, a decrease on PA after PPMR in the experimental condition where PPMR was implemented after CM. A decrease discussed in terms of a lowering of activated positive affects or intensity of affect. Correlational analyses found significant relationships between: baseline PA and change in PA-scores after CM; previous-ME and change in SC-scores after CM; and Meditation-associated Expectations and Experience of the meditation (CM-experience). Further research should continue delineation of CM from LKM.}},
  author       = {{Korman, Miriam and Åström, Ann Helén}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Does brief compassion meditation increase positive affect and social connectedness?}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}