Desired Emotional Closeness Predicts Changes in Perceived Emotional Closeness during Loving-Kindness Meditation Training in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns

235 female undergraduate students were recruited for a week-long study examining perceived and desired emotional closeness during Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) training. In exploratory analyses, desired emotional closeness significantly predicted change in perceived emotional closeness during both LKM and friend visualization (control) conditions, F(1,156)=14.03, p<.001.