Assessing the effect of Loving-Kindness Meditation on pain and social well-being using a randomized controlled trial design

Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), a contemplative practice that aims to promote social well-being, has also been linked to lower self-reported pain symptoms. However, it remains unknown whether LKM can reduce pain through having a positive impact on social well-being, as well as whether LKM can improve self-reported acute pain and objectively measured acute pain tolerance among a general, healthy population. In this study (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04632875), participants ( n = 69) completed either a 4-week online LKM training or an active control meditation training (Progressive Muscle Relaxation; PMR), followed by a novel, remote pain induction task: the wall sit test administered over video conference. This study used a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial design with stratified block randomization and a double-blind baseline session. We hypothesized that, relative to the PMR active control, LKM would improve social well-being, reduce subjective pain reports, and improve acute pain tolerance. Contrary to our hypotheses, the PMR active control training increased perceived social support relative to LKM ( p = .028), and neither meditation decreased subjective pain or increased acute pain tolerance over time. Our data were collected during the unique circumstance of the early COVID-19 pandemic, and it is important to interpret our results with consideration of widespread restrictions on in-person social contact and elevated stress during this period. This context may have constrained participants’ opportunities for social connection and influenced reports of social support and pain. Nevertheless, our findings add to the current understanding of how meditation, social wellness, and pain may be related.