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Cited by 78Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionNonprofit Sector and Volunteering

Effects of compassion meditation on a psychological model of charitable donation.

Ashar, Yoni K., Andrews-Hanna, Jessica R., Yarkoni, Tal, Sills, Jenifer, Halifax, Joan, Dimidjian, Sona, Wager, Tor D.·2016·Emotion
DOI 10.1037/emo0000119
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Abstract

Compassion is critical for societal wellbeing. Yet, it remains unclear how specific thoughts and feelings motivate compassionate behavior, and we lack a scientific understanding of how to effectively cultivate compassion. Here, we conducted 2 studies designed to a) develop a psychological model predicting compassionate behavior, and b) test this model as a mediator of a Compassion Meditation (CM) intervention and identify the "active ingredients" of CM. In Study 1, we developed a model predicting compassionate behavior, operationalized as real-money charitable donation, from a linear combination of self-reported tenderness, personal distress, perceived blamelessness, and perceived instrumental value of helping with high cross-validated accuracy, r = .67, p < .0001. Perceived similarity to suffering others did not predict charitable donation when controlling for other feelings and attributions. In Study 2, a randomized controlled trial, we tested the Study 1 model as a mediator of CM and investigated active ingredients. We compared a smartphone-based CM program to 2 conditions-placebo oxytocin and a Familiarity intervention-to control for expectancy effects, demand characteristics, and familiarity effects. Relative to control conditions, CM increased charitable donations, and changes in the Study 1 model of feelings and attributions mediated this effect (pab = .002). The Familiarity intervention led to decreases in primary outcomes, while placebo oxytocin had no significant effects on primary outcomes. Overall, this work contributes a quantitative model of compassionate behavior, and informs our understanding of the change processes and intervention components of CM. (PsycINFO Database Record

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  • Eight of 9 medium-risk studies found support for subjective improvements.

    “There were 9 medium-risk studies and 8 found support for subjective improvements (Ashar et al., 2016; Asuero et al., 2014; He et al., 2015; Hutcherson et al., 2008; Logie & Ferwen, 2015; Oman, Thoresen, & Hedberg, 2010; Shapiro, Schwartz, & Bonner, 1998; Taylor et al., 2015).”

    From A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors (2018) · cites this paper as Ashar et al., 2016

  • Increased social and emotional connectedness mediated the effects of compassion meditation on charitable donations.

    “Formal mediation results revealed that increased social and emotional connectedness mediated the effects of compassion meditation and charitable donations (Ashar et al., 2016);”

    From A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors (2018) · cites this paper as Ashar et al., 2016

  • Six of these studies conducted formal mediation analyses.

    “Six of these studies conducted formal mediation analyses (Ashar et al., 2016; Hutcherson et al., 2008; Kang et al., 2014; Oman et al., 2010; Kok et al., 2013; Shapiro et al., 1998).”

    From A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors (2018) · cites this paper as Ashar et al., 2016

  • Some studies directly tested self-focused emotional mechanisms as mediators of meditation training on prosocial outcomes and found significant indirect effects, suggesting that meditation leads to improvements in individuals' own socio-emotional functioning and, thereby, improvements in prosocial outcomes.

    “Some studies directly tested self-focused emotional mechanisms as mediators of meditation training on pro-social outcomes and found significant indirect effects, suggesting that meditation leads to improvements in individuals own socio-emotional functioning and, thereby, improvements in pro-social outcomes (Ashar et al., 2016; Hutcherson et al., 2008; Kang et al., 2014; Kok et al., 2013; Shapiro”

    From A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors (2018) · cites this paper as Ashar et al., 2016

  • Potential emotional mechanisms include an increased sense of social-emotional connectedness with others, increased positive affect, decreased stress and negative affect, and greater trait mindfulness and self-compassion.

    “Potential emotional mechanisms include an increased sense of social-emotional connectedness with others (Ashar et al., 2016; Kok et al., 2013), increased positive affect (Hutcherson et al., 2008; Kok et al., 2013), decreased stress and negative affect (Kang et al., 2014; Oman et al., 2010; Shapiro et al., 1998), and greater trait mindfulness and self-compassion (Wallmark et al., 2013).”

    From A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Prosocial Behaviors (2018) · cites this paper as Ashar et al., 2016

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Authors
Ashar, Y. K., Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Yarkoni, T., Sills, J., Halifax, J., Dimidjian, S., & Wager, T. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
ORCID
Venue
Emotion
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2016-08
Volume
16
Issue
5
Pages
691-705
ISSN
  • 1528-3542 (ISSN-L)
  • 1931-1516
DOI
10.1037/emo0000119
OpenAlex
W2324355046
Cited by
78
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1
FWCI
9.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Emotion (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
Keywords
compassion meditation, charitable giving, tenderness, personal distress
MeSH terms
Adult, Charities, Empathy, Female, Helping Behavior, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Social Behavior, Meditation

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