Objectives

Compassion meditation (CM) training has demonstrated potential in improving well-being and psychosocial functioning. However, most prior studies of CM training have focused on younger adults. The generalizability of the effectiveness of CM training with older adults requires further study. This pilot study was intended to inform future randomized controlled studies of CM training in older adults.

Methods

Participants included 24 older adults who attended a 10-week group CM training. Exploratory outcome measures were administered prior to, during, and after the intervention. Participants also completed logs of mood and meditation practice, and provided descriptive comments in response to open-ended questions administered at the end of treatment.

Results

High treatment completion rates (87.5%) and reported adherence (85.7% of assigned meditation) were observed. Descriptive feedback from participants indicated older adults are interested in and capable of learning and applying new concepts and skills in support of their well-being. Pre- to post-intervention changes were explored with a variety of self-report measures. Weekly journals suggested increased feelings of love, closeness, or trust, and decreased feelings of stress, nervousness, or being overwhelmed.

Conclusions

These findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility of CM training in community-dwelling older adults, and suggest the need for future efficacy and effectiveness clinical trials.

Clinical implications

CM training offers potential benefits for improving well-being among older adults, and, as an example of a strengths-based approach, can be tailored to the specific needs of older adults.

Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that is intended to cultivate the ability to extend and sustain compassion toward self and others. Although research documents the benefits of CM in healthy populations, its use in the context of psychopathology is largely unexamined. The purpose of this study was to refine and initially evaluate a CM protocol, Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), for use with Veterans with PTSD. To this end, our research team developed and refined a manualized protocol, CBCT-Vet, over 4 sets of groups involving 36 Veterans. This protocol was delivered in 8-10 sessions, each lasting 90-120 min and led by a CBCT®-trained clinical psychologist. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to identify areas to be improved and to assess change that occurred during the treatment period. Based on pooled data from this series of groups, CM appears to be acceptable to Veterans with PTSD. Group participation was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD (partial eta squared = .27) and depression (partial eta squared = .19), but causality should not be inferred given the nonrandomized design. No change was observed in additional outcomes, including positive emotion and social connectedness. The results of this open trial support additional exploration of CM as part of the recovery process for Veterans with PTSD.