Effects of animated pedagogical agent-guided loving-kindness meditation on flight attendants’ spirituality, mindfulness, subjective wellbeing, and social presence

Chao Liu; Chao Liu; Hao Chen; Hao Chen; Fang Zhou; Chao-Hung Chiang; Yi-Lang Chen; Kan Wu; Kan Wu; Ding-Hau Huang; Chia-Yih Liu; Wen-Ko Chiou; Wen-Ko Chiou; Wen-Ko Chiou

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.894220

Frontiers in Psychology (Aug 2022)

Effects of animated pedagogical agent-guided loving-kindness meditation on flight attendants’ spirituality, mindfulness, subjective wellbeing, and social presence

Chao Liu,
Chao Liu,
Hao Chen,
Hao Chen,
Fang Zhou,
Chao-Hung Chiang,
Yi-Lang Chen,
Kan Wu,
Kan Wu,
Ding-Hau Huang,
Chia-Yih Liu,
Wen-Ko Chiou,
Wen-Ko Chiou,
Wen-Ko Chiou

Affiliations

Chao Liu: School of Journalism and Communication, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
Chao Liu: Business Analytics Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Hao Chen: Business Analytics Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Hao Chen: School of Film Television and Communication, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen, China
Fang Zhou: Department of Economic and Management, Suzhou Vocational Institute of Industrial Technology, Suzhou, China
Chao-Hung Chiang: Department of Shipping and Transportation Management, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, Magong, Taiwan
Yi-Lang Chen: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan
Kan Wu: Business Analytics Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Kan Wu: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Ding-Hau Huang: Institute of Creative Design and Management, National Taipei University of Business, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Chia-Yih Liu: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Wen-Ko Chiou: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan
Wen-Ko Chiou: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Wen-Ko Chiou: 0Department of Industrial Design, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.894220
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) was first practiced by Buddhists and then developed by clinical psychologist. Previous studies on LKM have mainly focused on the impact of real person-guided meditation on depression, anxiety, and other negative psychology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explored the effect and mechanism of media-guided LKM on the improvement of social presence, mindfulness, spirituality, and subjective wellbeing (SWB). From the viewpoint of positive psychology, this study compared the different media effects of animated pedagogical agent (APA)-guided LKM and audio-guided LKM. A total of 82 flight attendants were recruited from airlines; then, they were randomly assigned to two groups: APA group (41 participants) and audio group (41 participants), which both underwent an 8-week LKM training intervention. The aforementioned four main variables were measured pre and post the meditation experiment. The results indicated that both APA-guided meditation and audio-guided meditation significantly improved subjects’ spirituality and SWB. Compared with audio-guided meditation, APA-guided meditation significantly improved the subjects’ spirituality, SWB, and social presence. Audio-guided meditation has no significant effect on social presence. This study highlights APA-guided meditation has a positive effect on spirituality, SWB, and social presence, which may provide individuals with a simple and easy method to improve their mental health.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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