Leadership support and the informal practice of mindfulness in the military.
Psychological services July 20, 2026 Amy B Adler, Paul D Bliese, Ian A Gutierrez et al.
In a study of 813 soldiers in 10 weeks of basic combat training, more than one third reported engaging in informal mindfulness practice at least 3 days per week (48.0% at 4 weeks, 36.9% at 9 weeks), most often when feeling stressed. Soldiers who perceived greater leadership support for mindfulness training were more likely to practice informally, even after controlling for sex, rank, prior mindfulness experience, and overall leadership ratings. The association held across specific practice contexts such as during tasks or when stressed. The authors suggest that leader support may influence informal practice engagement in high-stakes military settings.