Meditation, Compassionate Love, and Mental Health in Later Life

Abstract

Purpose: Understanding of the mechanisms by which meditation imparts beneficial effects on later-life mental health is limited. The current study assessed the role of compassionate love in mediating the relationship between meditation and mental health in later life. Method: Using data from a nationwide web-based survey ( N = 1,861), we examined the indirect effects of meditation on depressive symptoms and anxiety via compassionate love. Results: Participants who practiced meditation (compared to those who did not) had significantly higher feelings of being loved ( b = 0.11, p < 0.05); those who experienced more love had lower depressive symptoms ( b = −2.10, p < 0.001) and anxiety ( b = −0.99, p < 0.001). Meditation also had significant indirect effects (via compassionate love) on depressive symptoms ( b = −0.23, p < 0.05) and anxiety ( b = −0.11, p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study underscores the need for contemplative interventions that foster compassionate love to improve mental health in later life. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50 (3), 40–50.]