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Loving-Kindness Meditation Improves Relationship Negativity and Psychological Well-Being: A Pilot Study
Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Department of Anesthesiology University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Insight Mindfulness Meditation of Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, USA
- 1 Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- 2 Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- 3 Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- 4 Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- 5 Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- 6 Department of Anesthesiology University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- 7 Insight Mindfulness Meditation of Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, USA
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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.
KeywordsSocial SupportSocial NegativityLoving-Kindness MeditationWell-Being
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