Effects of Loving-Kindness and Compassion Meditations on Self-Compassion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Loving-kindness and compassion meditations (LKCM) is an important practice to cultivate self-compassion. This study provides the first systematic review for the effects of LKCM interventions on self-compassion. Method: Inclusion criteria required studies were published in English, focused on LKCM interventions and measured self-compassion scale as outcomes. Literature search was conducted on March 3, 2022, by searching PsycInfo, Web of Science Core Collection, Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Risk of bias was evaluated following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions. Effect sizes were analyzed with random-effects model. The subgroup analyses are conducted against the categorical moderators and meta-regressions against the continuous ones. A narrative review was recruited to deepen the understanding of the primary outcomes. Results: Meta-analyses included 65 studies and participants involved adults across healthy and clinical samples. The results showed that LKCM interventions effectively cultivate self-compassion (d = 0.56, k = 31, n = 2,823 for randomized controlled trials; d = 0.69, k = 24, n = 1,188 for uncontrolled trials). The effect sizes were significantly impacted by control conditions, participant type, focus of LKCM, and specific protocols. Effect sizes also showed nonsignificant but large variations across six dimensions of self-compassion. Discussion: LKCM interventions could effectively cultivate self-compassion among adults across healthy and clinical samples, but more studies are required to generalize effects to specific clinical samples and adolescents.