Loving Kindness Meditation: An Intervention to Increase Positivity Following Interpersonal Transgressions

Kjerstin Halverson; Ellen Petersen

doi:10.21697/fp.2024.1.7

Published: 2024-07-10

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2024)

Loving Kindness Meditation: An Intervention to Increase Positivity Following Interpersonal Transgressions

Kjerstin Halverson , Ellen Petersen

Pedagogical Forum

Section: Topic

https://doi.org/10.21697/fp.2024.1.7

Abstract

Objective- To determine if a single 15-minute guided LKM intervention can increase an individual’s feelings of forgiveness toward someone who has caused them harm.

Methods- Participants (N = 49; mean age = 18-21 years) were asked to recollect and describe an incident where another individual hurt them then randomized to either a control, secular LKM, or spiritual LKM. Baseline measurements included demographics, emotional forgiveness scale (EFS), attitudes related to spirituality (ARES), anxiety and depression (PHQ-4), positive and negative affect (PANAS), single stress item (SSI), self-critical rumination scale, gratitude (GQ-6), and Batson empathy scale. All measures, excluding demographics and ARES, were assessed post-intervention.

Results- No significant differences were identified between groups for all measures except positive affect as measured by PANAS and gratitude as measured by GQ-6. These results remained significant even when covarying for baseline spiritual beliefs.

Conclusions- Our single 15-minute intervention was successful in increasing gratitude for participants in the spiritual intervention group when compared to the control and borderline significance comparing the control and the secular intervention.

Keywords:

Positive Psychology, Meditation, gratitude, loving kindness

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Halverson, K., & Ellen Petersen. (2024). Loving Kindness Meditation: An Intervention to Increase Positivity Following Interpersonal Transgressions. Pedagogical Forum, 14(1), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.21697/fp.2024.1.7

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Kjerstin Halverson

halvkj01@luther.edu

Affiliation:

a:1:{s:5:"pl_PL";s:14:"Luther College";} United States

Ellen Petersen

Affiliation:

Luther College United States