A Mini-Review of Work Stress and Mindfulness: A Neuropsychological Point of View

Work stress harms cognitive and mental health, impairs workplace performance, and increases disease risk, partly through alterations in brain areas like the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may reduce stress and promote health in workplaces, but their specific neuropsychological benefits in organizational settings remain unclear. This review analyzes stress-related brain impairments and the potential benefits of MBIs from a neuropsychological perspective, emphasizing the role of cognitive functions—such as emotion regulation, problem-solving, and learning—in work achievements. It argues that promoting wellbeing is a shared responsibility between workers and organizations, and that healthy environments enable greater control, productivity, and talent development.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Work stress is consistently linked with the deterioration of cognitive and mental health, limitations in everyday workplace performance, and an increased risk of developing diseases. A common thread binding these consequences appears to be stress-associated alterations in neuropsychological functions and affective domains, especially those reliant on hippocampal, prefrontal, and amygdala brain area. Although research broadly supports the claim that the practice of mindfulness meditation for the reduction of the consequences of stress and the promotion of health exert positive effects on workplaces, the precise neuropsychological benefits of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in the context of organizations remain elusive. In this review, we will analyze the impairments imposed by stress on the brain areas and functions and the benefits of MBIs from a neuropsychological point of view. This is significant since there is a centrality of cognitive functions in core processes necessary for work achievements, such as emotion regulation, problem-solving, and learning. The promotion of wellbeing is a responsibility shared between workers and organizations. Developing healthy environments allows workers to exercise greater control over their work, face work challenges, work productively and develop their talent.