LonelinessNCT05350449
Loving Kindness Meditation Among Adults 50 Years and Older
A study testing Loving-kindness Meditation in people with Loneliness, run by University of Nevada, Las Vegas at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Loneliness
- What is being tested?
- Loving-kindness Meditation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 59 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 2 May 2023to 30 Oct 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults 50 years or older living in Southern Nevada
Who cannot join
- Cognitive or language barrier that would make it difficult to understand and sign the informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154
About this study
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).
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Being tested
- Loving-kindness Meditation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Loving-kindness MeditationBehavioural
Also called mindfulness practice
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Loving kindness meditation | Experimental | Loving-kindness meditation is a contemplative practice that focuses on developing compassion for oneself and others through mindfulness. Participants will be shown the recorded loving-kindness training video during the first week of the intervention. Participants will be encouraged to use the mp3 device with guided meditation recording to practice mindfulness meditation for 20-25 minutes every day for 30 days. We will also provide participants with a diary to record their daily meditation experiences. There will be weekly check in. At 60 days we will do a follow-up data collection. Receives: Behavioral: Loving-kindness Meditation |
| Waitlist control | No intervention | The arm will eventually get the intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Loneliness
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.
Measured: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention (follow-up periods).
Change in Self-compassion
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.
Measured: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in Anxiety
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.
Measured: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.
Change in Depressive Symptoms
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.
Measured: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Apr 2022
- Study start2 May 2023
- Primary completion30 Oct 2023
- Study completion30 Oct 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for LonelinessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 59 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nirmala Lekhak, PhD, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Investigators
- Nirmala Lekhak, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05350449
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UNLV-2022-148
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 8 Apr 2022
- Last updated
- 4 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Loving Kindness Meditation Among Adults 50 Years and Older
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05350449
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UNLV-2022-148
- Conditions
- Loneliness
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 59 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nevada, Las VegasUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 May 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Oct 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 4 Jul 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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).
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Loving kindness meditation | Experimental | Behavioral: Loving-kindness MeditationLoving-kindness meditation is a contemplative practice that focuses on developing compassion for oneself and others through mindfulness. Participants will be shown the recorded loving-kindness training video during the first week of the intervention. Participants will be encouraged to use the mp3 device with guided meditation recording to practice mindfulness meditation for 20-25 minutes every day for 30 days. We will also provide participants with a diary to record their daily meditation experiences. There will be weekly check in. At 60 days we will do a follow-up data collection. |
| Waitlist control | No intervention | –The arm will eventually get the intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Adults 50 years or older living in Southern Nevada
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Cognitive or language barrier that would make it difficult to understand and sign the informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Loving-kindness MeditationAlso: mindfulness practiceLoving-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. | Behavioural | Loving kindness meditation |
Primary outcome
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.
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.
2 secondary outcomes
Change in Anxiety
Time frame: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.
Change in Depressive Symptoms
Time frame: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jul 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Nirmala Lekhak, PhD principal investigator
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Loving-kindness Meditation in people with Loneliness, run by University of Nevada, Las Vegas at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 4 Jul 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Loneliness (time frame: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and week 4 and week 8 post intervention (follow-up periods).). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jul 2025.