Mapping the landscape of mindfulness research in educational workplaces: a bibliometric and conceptual analysis (2020–2024)
Jiraporn Chano, Bahtiar Mohamad, Surachet Noirid, Phamornpun Yurayat, Areerat Nonsuwan, Hemmin Thanapatmeemanee, Melinda Tuaypar, Natchalida Leamthaisong, Chowwalit Chookhampaeng, Sudares Sirisittanapak, Chi Cheng Wu
Frontiers in Education February 13, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2026.1765432 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic mapping with bibliometric and conceptual analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 242 |
| Population | Peer-reviewed publications on mindfulness in educational workplaces from 2020 to 2024 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Thematic analysis Scholarship Scopus Conceptual framework Empirical research Psychological intervention Field mathematics Narrative inquiry Centrality Knowledge management Bibliometrics Typology Educational research Content analysis Thematic structure |
| Key points | Mindfulness research in educational workplaces focuses predominantly on individual-level constructs like stress and burnout, while systemic factors such as school leadership and collective efficacy are significantly underrepresented. |
Abstract
This study provides a systematic mapping of the intellectual structure of mindfulness research within educational workplaces from 2020 to 2024. Despite growing interest, a critical gap exists in understanding how this scholarship addresses systemic, organizational factors alongside individual well-being. A bibliometric and conceptual analysis was conducted on 242 peer-reviewed publications sourced from Scopus and ERIC. Using VOSviewer, we performed keyword co-occurrence analysis to visualize thematic clusters and temporal trends, complemented by a narrative synthesis to interpret findings. The analysis identified four dominant thematic clusters: Teacher Well-being and Mental Health, Mindfulness Interventions and Training, Student Development and Educational Psychology, and Socio-Cultural and Methodological Context. Findings reveal a pronounced focus on individual-level constructs like stress and burnout, while systemic factors such as school leadership and collective efficacy are significantly underrepresented and fragmented within the literature. The keyword structures are consistent with patterns described in the “McMindfulness” critique, suggesting an empirical tendency toward individualized conceptualizations; however, this does not constitute a direct empirical test of the critique. The study concludes by proposing a multi-level conceptual framework and a structured research agenda to advance the field toward integrated, organizational applications that enhance both educator well-being and overall school climate.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- Mindfulness for Teachers: A Pilot Study to Assess Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Teaching Efficacy Mind, Brain, and Education August 16, 2013
- Effects of a mindfulness-based interventions on stress, burnout in nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry August 3, 2023
- Association of mindfulness on state-trait anxiety in choking-susceptible athletes: mediating roles of resilience and perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology August 29, 2023
- Corrigendum: Methylation of FKBP5 and SLC6A4 in Relation to Treatment Response to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2021
and 4 more in the library