Loving-Kindness Meditation and the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions Among Veterans Disorder

Background: Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is a practice intended to enhance feelings of kindness and compassion for self and others. Objectives: To assess whether participation in a 12-week course of LKM for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with improved positive emotions, decentering, and personal resources. Research Design: In an open-pilot trial, veterans were assessed at baseline, after the course, and 3 months later. Effect sizes were calculated from baseline to each follow-up point for each construct of interest. Measures were chosen as an initial investigation of the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Subjects: A total of 42 veterans with active PTSD (40% female) participated. Measures: Emotions, decentering, psychological wellbeing including autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, self-acceptance, and sense of social support were measured at each time point. Results: Significant increases in unactivated pleasant (d = 0.73), but not activated pleasant, emotions were found over time. Activated and unactivated unpleasant emotions decreased over time (d = -0.69 and -0.53, respectively). There were also increases in environmental mastery (d = 0.61), personal growth (d = 0.54), purpose in life (d = 0.71), self-acceptance (d = 0.68), and decentering (d = 0.96) at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Overall, positive emotions increased, and enhancement of personal resources occurred over time. Further investigation of LKM for PTSD is warranted.