The effect of The Loving Kindness Meditation intervention on the level of self-criticism and self-compassion

The study examines the effect of a 14-day online Loving kindness meditation (LKM) intervention on the level of self-criticism and self-compassion in a non-clinical sample. The original 120 participants were randomly divided into an experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group completed a 14-day LKM training, which focused on supporting kindness, compassion, and care for self and others. We studied the differences between the groups using the Forms of Self-Criticising and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS) and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). We administered the questionnaires three times, immediately before the intervention, immediately after the intervention and 2 months after the intervention. We hypothetised that a participation in LKM would increase self-compassion and decrease self-criticism compared to a control group. We used nonparametric Brunner test in programme R to test the differences.

We found that the participants after the LKM intervention showed significant decrease of self-criticism compared to the control group. This effect lasted for 2 months. However, we were not able to confirm the positive effect of the intervention on increasing the level of self-compassion, because the increased self-compassion score was also demonstrated in the control group, probably due to sensitization of the measurement and directing attention to self-compassion. The biggest benefit of our research is that even an online 14-day intervention without the direct involvement of a mental health professional can significantly reduce the level of self-criticism in a non-clinical sample, and this reduced level persists even after two months. Loving kindness meditation is therefore a promising intervention for those who tend to be critical of themselves and do not know how to cultivate compassion, and at the same time it is difficult for them for whatever reasons to seek professional help. There are two main limits of the research study: available sample and high attrition rate.