The Role of Meditation in Developing Compassion Amongst Student Nurses in Mumbai

Abstract

Background: Compassion is vital for health care providers. Neuroimaging studies confirm that compassionate individuals can regulate their emotions while reaching out to those in distress. However, compassion is difficult to cultivate. In this context, a growing body of multi-disciplinary research suggests that compassion meditation interventions can serve as a novel, cost effective way for cultivating compassion. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a customized, multimodal, compassion meditation intervention for developing compassion in 146 student nurses, from four colleges in Mumbai; and proposes a customized framework and compassion program for student nurses in India. Additionally, it examines the correlation between compassion and other major variables that enable its development, in the nursing context. Method: The primary research strategy encompassed four multi-site, quasi-experimental trials (comprising four different nursing colleges). A Simple Interrupted Time Series Design was used involving pre and posttest, self-report, standardized measures. To augment the accuracy and richness of the findings, Focus Groups Discussions were held post each trial Results: The overall results of the total sample comprising all the nursing colleges, showed a significant improvement in Compassion and its major correlates (i.e. Perceived Stress, Resilience, Positive Affect and Self-Compassion) post the intervention, in the predicted direction. Effect sizes were small.