Frequent loving kindness meditation relates to lower anxiety in long term practitioners through higher self compassion and cognitive flexibility

Little is known about the variables influencing the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions among long-term practitioners. This study examined the association between Loving-Kindness Compassion Meditation (LKCM) practice and anxiety levels in 60 experienced meditators. We analyzed practice duration, frequency, self-compassion, and cognitive fusion. Results indicated no direct association between years of practice and anxiety. However, a moderated serial mediation model showed that the benefits are related to the frequency of practice. Weekly practice frequency moderated the relationship between years of meditation and self-compassion; furthermore, self-compassion was associated with lower cognitive fusion and this, in turn, with lower anxiety levels. Notably, high self-compassion was evident early in daily practitioners, whereas comparable levels were only observed in less frequent practitioners. These findings suggest that self-compassion and cognitive flexibility are critical components in prolonged meditation, highlighting the pivotal role of practice consistency over time.