Alba, Beatrice (Macquarie University, Australia)
The psychological benefits of participating in a metta meditation retreat
Participants at two metta (loving-kindness) meditation retreats were surveyed in order to examine the psychological effects of metta meditation. The retreats were both held in Australia in 2011, and were led by - Theravada monk Bhante Sujato. The first retreat was four nights, with approximately 30 attendees, the second retreat 10 nights, with approximately 60 attendees. The surveys included scales that measured happiness, compassionate love, revenge and avoidance motivation, gratitude, as well as a depression, anxiety and stress scale. For both retreats, the surveys were completed at the beginning of the retreat, at the end of the retreat, and two weeks after the end of the retreat. Not all attendees completed all surveys, leaving somewhat small samples of participants who completed all phases. However, consistent with hypotheses, significant increases were found in happiness and compassionate love, reductions in avoidance and revenge, and reductions on the depression, anxiety and stress subscales. The strongest overall result in both studies was a reduction in stress.
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The psychological benefits of participating in a metta meditation retreat
Participants at two metta (loving-kindness) meditation retreats were surveyed in order to examine the psychological effects of metta meditation. The retreats were both held in Australia in 2011, and were led by - Theravada monk Bhante Sujato. The first retreat was four nights, with approximately 30 attendees, the second retreat 10 nights, with approximately 60 attendees. The surveys included scales that measured happiness, compassionate love, revenge and avoidance motivation, gratitude, as well as a depression, anxiety and stress scale. For both retreats, the surveys were completed at the beginning of the retreat, at the end of the retreat, and two weeks after the end of the retreat. Not all attendees completed all surveys, leaving somewhat small samples of participants who completed all phases. However, consistent with hypotheses, significant increases were found in happiness and compassionate love, reductions in avoidance and revenge, and reductions on the depression, anxiety and stress subscales. The strongest overall result in both studies was a reduction in stress.
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