Loving‐Kindness Meditation and Empathy: A Wellness Group Intervention for Counseling Students
Journal of Counseling & Development June 9, 2016 DOI: 10.1002/jcad.12086 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA six-week loving-kindness meditation program improved dimensions of empathy among 103 master's-level counseling students. More time spent meditating was linked to greater perspective taking. The findings suggest that structured meditation can enhance empathic abilities in future counselors.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 103 |
| Population | Master's-level counseling students |
| Duration | 6-week intervention |
| Citations | 73 |
| Key finding | Loving-kindness meditation led to gains in empathy, and more meditation time correlated with improved perspective taking. |
Abstract
The effect of a 6‐week loving‐kindness meditation (LKM) on the multidimensional empathy of 103 master's‐level counseling students was evaluated, in addition to the correlation between reported levels of time spent meditating and empathy. Statistical analyses indicated that participants who received the LKM intervention experienced gains in dimensions of empathy. A significant relationship between quantity of meditation and perspective taking was noted. Implications and suggestions for future research are explored.