Comparing the Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), Music and LKM Plus Music on Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Loving-kindness meditation (LKM), a meditative practice directing caring feelings toward self and others, is a popular, evidence-base approach to increasing well-being. Music listening is also a popular form of emotion regulation used to enhance well-being. This interdisciplinary study evaluated a novel intervention called Convergence—combining LKM with accompanying classical guitar music—and its effects on adults’ well-being, mindfulness, compassion and self-compassion outcomes. Convergence was compared to active control groups LKM-only and Music-only regarding their relative effectiveness in improving these outcomes. Participants (N = 78; aged 18 to 69 years; 90% females; recruited from the general public) were assigned to either the Convergence, LKM-only, or Music-only condition. Each condition received a 2-hour workshop, involving psychoeducation, three prerecorded meditations, and group enquiry and discussion. Participants were assessed at pre-program, post-program, and 4-week follow-up. Findings revealed that Convergence, LKM-only and Music-only were equally effective interventions, producing improvements in dependent variables with small effect sizes. There was no additive effect of the components when delivered together as Convergence. Significant correlations were found between the amount of home practice, and mindfulness and self-compassion at follow-up. LKM, music listening and Convergence all provide brief, evidence-based alternatives for improving well-being. Practical and theoretical implications are provided, as well as recommendations for future research.

Keywords:

• Mindfulness/flow
• program evaluation
• stress and coping

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr Marcela Matos for assistance with statistical analyses.

Author Notes

Susan Sorensen is a piano and instrumental music teacher as well as a group fitness instructor based in Brisbane, Australia. Susan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2016 with a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and wants to go on to complete her Masters in Clinical Psychology. Susan is interested in becoming a child psychologist.

Stanley Steindl is an adjunct associate professor at School of Psychology, University of Queensland, and co-director of the UQ Compassionate Mind Research Group, Brisbane, Australia. His research interests are in the areas of compassion and compassion-based interventions, and especially the role of cultivating compassion and self-compassion in the context of promoting psychological wellbeing.

Genevieve Dingle is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Queensland. Her research interests include music and emotion regulation; and choir singing for social connectedness, mental health and wellbeing.

Anthony Garcia is an acclaimed guitarist, composer and educator based in Brisbane, Australia, working through his music organisation Sounds Across Oceans. He has recorded, toured and performed extensively throughout the world, collaborating with creatives across a diverse range of artistic disciplines. His research interests include improvisation, intercultural and collaborative learning, teaching artistry, interdisciplinary practice, and mindfulness meditation and music.