Buddhist meditation as a therapeutic tool in trauma recovery: A literature-based analysis of its role in healing child abuse survivors

Abstract

Background: Child abuse is a widespread issue affecting millions of children worldwide. It can take the form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and often leads to lasting psychological harm. Addressing the emotional and mental health needs of survivors is crucial for their long-term well-being. This study explores how Buddhist meditation can help promote psychological healing and resilience in those affected by child abuse. Further, the child abuse, encompassing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, often leads to long-term psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and impaired emotional regulation. This study aimed to examine the psychological impacts of child abuse and explore the therapeutic potential of Buddhist meditation in promoting healing and resilience among survivors. Method: This research employed a qualitative methodology based on an extensive literature review. Academic databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and JSTOR were searched using keywords including: child abuse, psychological distress, trauma recovery, mindfulness, loving-kindness meditation, and emotional regulation. The literature review focused on peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2024. Results: The findings revealed that Buddhist meditation practices especially mindfulness and loving-kindness (mettā) had been shown in multiple studies to foster emotional regulation, reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and enhance self-compassion in survivors of trauma. Survivors who engaged in these practices were better able to confront painful memories non-judgmentally, demonstrating improved psychological resilience. These results were consistently observed across the studies reviewed. Conclusion: Buddhist meditation, particularly mindfulness and loving-kindness practices, plays a valuable role in trauma recovery for survivors of child abuse. By promoting emotional balance, present-moment awareness, and self-compassion, these practices support long-term psychological healing. The study recommends integrating Buddhist meditation techniques into trauma recovery programs and mental health interventions, given the consistent support from existing literature.