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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05350449

Loving Kindness Meditation Among Adults 50 Years and Older

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).

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Key information

Conditions

Loneliness

Age range

50 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154, United States

About this study

The main aim of the research is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Loving-kindness meditation intervention among adults 50 years or older. It will also examine the intervention's preliminary impact on loneliness, self-compassion, cognitive function, and psychological well-being. The study will use a randomized controlled trial with waitlist control.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults 50 years or older living in Southern Nevada

Exclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

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.

Other names: mindfulness practice

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Loneliness

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

    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.

  2. Change in Self-compassion

    Time frame: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Anxiety

    Time frame: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.

    A 4-item PROMIS Emotional Distress: Anxiety Scale will be used to measure anxiety. The scores on this scale range from 4 to 20, the highest scores indicative of a higher feeling of anxiety. We will measure anxiety at baseline and post-intervention periods to measure the change in anxiety level because of the loving-kindness meditation intervention.

  2. Change in Depressive Symptoms

    Time frame: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.

    A 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale will be used to measure depressive symptoms. The scores on this scale range from 10 to 40, the highest scores indicative of a higher feeling of depression. We will measure depressive symptoms at baseline and post-intervention periods to measure the change in depressive symptoms because of the loving-kindness meditation intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Apr 28, 2022
Registry last updated
Jul 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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