TITLE:
Loving-Kindness Meditation Improves Relationship Negativity and Psychological Well-Being: A Pilot Study
AUTHORS:
Bert N. Uchino, Kimberly Bowen, Robert G. Kent de Grey, Timothy W. Smith, Brian R. Baucom, Kathleen C. Light, Shirley Ray
KEYWORDS:
Social Support, Social Negativity, Loving-Kindness Meditation, Well-Being
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.7 No.1,
January
5,
2016
ABSTRACT: Most interventions on relationships and health have focused on altering positive aspects of relationship such as social support. Given the separability of positive and negative aspects of relationships it is less clear if such interventions can also influence relationship negativity. This pilot study of 9 individuals tested the influence of a novel 6-week loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention on changes over time in social support, social negativity, depression, and life satisfaction. Consistent with past work, LKM participants showed increases in perceived support and decreases in depression. Extending prior work, LKM participants also showed decreases in social negativity, which was more closely linked to changes in depression compared to social support. These data suggest the feasibility of using LKM to increase relationship positivity, decrease relationship negativity, and enhance psychological well-being.