Valor Martínez, Carmen Martínez de Ibarreta Zorita, Carlos Carrero Bosch, Isabel Merino de Diego, Amparo 2025-09-26T12:28:48Z 2025-09-26T12:28:48Z 2024-05-07 2042-6763 https:doi.org10.1108JSOCM-05-2023-0110 Artículos en revistas Purpose Brief loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is introduced here as a valid social marketing intervention. LKM positively influences prosocial cognitions and affects. However, it remains unclear whether brief meditation interventions can influence prosocial behavior. This study aims to provide evidence of the effects of short LKM on prosocial behavior. Designmethodologyapproach This study reports the results of three experiments examining the effects of brief LKM on donations to unknown others. The results are then integrated with the results of seven other studies testing the effects of brief LKM on prosocial behavior using a meta-analysis (n = 683). Findings LKM increased love more than the control group (focused breathing) in the three experiments; however, its effects on donations were mixed. The meta-analysis shows that LKM has a small-to-medium significant effect compared to active control groups (d = 0.303); moreover, age and type of prosocial measure used moderate the effects. Originalityvalue Results suggest that LKM can nurture prosocial emotions such as love and lead young individuals to donate. However, these emotions may not be sufficient to lead adult meditators to share their resources with unknown others. This study presents the first meta-analysis of brief LKM and provides insights into the use of meditation in social marketing programs. Purpose Brief loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is introduced here as a valid social marketing intervention. LKM positively influences prosocial cognitions and affects. However, it remains unclear whether brief meditation interventions can influence prosocial behavior. This study aims to provide evidence of the effects of short LKM on prosocial behavior. Designmethodologyapproach This study reports the results of three experiments examining the effects of brief LKM on donations to unknown others. The results are then integrated with the results of seven other studies testing the effects of brief LKM on prosocial behavior using a meta-analysis (n = 683). Findings LKM increased love more than the control group (focused breathing) in the three experiments; however, its effects on donations were mixed. The meta-analysis shows that LKM has a small-to-medium significant effect compared to active control groups (d = 0.303); moreover, age and type of prosocial measure used moderate the effects. Originalityvalue Results suggest that LKM can nurture prosocial emotions such as love and lead young individuals to donate. However, these emotions may not be sufficient to lead adult meditators to share their resources with unknown others. This study presents the first meta-analysis of brief LKM and provides insights into the use of meditation in social marketing programs. application/octet-stream en-GB Revista: Journal of Social Marketing, Periodo: 1, Volumen: online, Número: 2, Página inicial: 280, Página final: 300 Instituto de Investigación Tecnológica (IIT) Effects of loving-kindness meditation on prosocial behavior: empirical and meta-analytic evidence info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess meditation; mindfulness; pro-social; donation; meta-analysis; behavioral change meditation; mindfulness; pro-social; donation; meta-analysis; behavioral change