Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Mindfulness, Spirituality and Subjective Well-Being of Flight Attendants

Abstract

This study investigated (1) the effects of the loving-kindness meditation on mindfulness, subjective well-being (SWB), and spirituality and (2) the relationships between mindfulness, spirituality, and SWB. Methods: 98 flight attendants from Xiamen airlines in China were recruited and randomly assigned to the loving-kindness meditation training group (n = 49) or the waiting control group (n = 49). The loving-kindness meditation training group underwent an 8-week loving-kindness meditation training intervention, and the control group did not undergo intervention. The three main variables (SWB, mindfulness, and spirituality) were measured both before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the loving-kindness meditation training intervention. Results: In the experimental group, SWB and spirituality increased significantly (mean scores of SWB: 4.13 for pre-test and 5.38 for post-test; mean scores of spirituality: 3.85 for pre-test and 3.99 for post-test). (In the control group, no significant differences were observed for the three variables between the pre-test and post-test.) We also identified positive correlations between mindfulness, spirituality and SWB and observed that spirituality mediated the relationship between mindfulness and SWB. Conclusions: Our results indicated that loving-kindness meditation can have a positive impact on SWB and spirituality. However, the mechanisms which underlie the effects of the loving-kindness meditation on mindfulness, spirituality, SWB, and other psychological constructs require further elucidation.