Loving Kindness Meditation Among Adults 50 Years and Older

NCT05350449 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: UNLV-2022-148
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 59
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the feasibility and acceptability of loving-kindness meditation among adults 50 years and older. It will also examine the benefits of this intervention and compare the outcomes between two groups (intervention and wait-list control).

Conditions

Loneliness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Loneliness

  A 3-item modified UCLA loneliness scale will be used to measure loneliness. The scores on this scale range from 3 to 9, the highest scores indicative of a higher level of loneliness. We will measure loneliness at baseline, post-intervention and 2 follow-up periods to measure the change in loneliness level because of the loving-kindness meditation intervention.

  baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention (follow-up periods).

• Change in Self-compassion

  A 12-item Self-compassion Short form Scale by Kirsten Neff will be used to measure self-compassion. The scores on this scale rages from 1-5. The highest scores are indicative of better self-compassion. We will measure self-compassion at baseline and post-intervention periods to measure the change in self-compassion because of the loving-kindness meditation intervention.

  baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Anxiety

  baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.

• Change in Depressive Symptoms

  baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Loving kindness meditation

EXPERIMENTAL

Loving-kindness meditation is a contemplative practice that focuses on developing compassion for oneself and others through mindfulness. Participants will be shown the recorded loving-kindness training video during the first week of the intervention. Participants will be encouraged to use the mp3 device with guided meditation recording to practice mindfulness meditation for 20-25 minutes every day for 30 days. We will also provide participants with a diary to record their daily meditation experiences. There will be weekly check in. At 60 days we will do a follow-up data collection.

Behavioral: Loving-kindness Meditation

Waitlist control

NO INTERVENTION

The arm will eventually get the intervention.

Interventions

Loving-kindness Meditation BEHAVIORAL

Loving-kindness meditation is a type of mindfulness practice where the focus is on love/compassion and kindness for self and others. The guided meditation will be provided via recording device. The intervention is 4 week long.

Also known as: mindfulness practice

Loving kindness meditation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults 50 years or older living in Southern Nevada

You may not qualify if:

• Cognitive or language barrier that would make it difficult to understand and sign the informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nevada, Las Vegas: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154, United States

Location

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Nirmala Lekhak
• Organization: University of Nevada Las Vegas

nirmala.lekhak@unlv.edu

702-895-5983

Study Officials

• Nirmala Lekhak, PhD

  University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 8, 2022
• First Posted: April 28, 2022
• Study Start: May 2, 2023
• Primary Completion: October 30, 2023
• Study Completion: October 30, 2023
• Last Updated: July 4, 2025
• Results First Posted: July 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)