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Revisiting the Role of Mindfulness Practices for Stress Reduction: An Empirical Study

Wahab Shahbaz, Aymen Sajjad

FIIB Business Review March 8, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/23197145261425108 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 28
Population University staff members in New Zealand who practice mindfulness
Intervention mindfulness practices
Topics Meditation
Keywords Empirical research Burnout Stress linguistics Stress reduction Job satisfaction Empirical evidence Applied psychology Psychotherapist Stress management Occupational stress Productivity
Key findings University staff adopt mindfulness practices during four distinct periods (morning, midday, on the spot, after work), and a supportive organizational environment is key to sustaining these practices for stress reduction.

Abstract

The emerging literature highlights the potential of mindfulness practices to reduce stress among workers. However, research on the practical application of mindfulness in real-world settings remains limited, particularly in academia, where escalating workloads compound stress levels. To address this gap, we explore how university staff engage in mindfulness practices and examine the factors that influence these practices in managing work-related stress. Our study involved semi-structured interviews with 28 university staff members in New Zealand who have integrated mindfulness into their routines. The findings reveal that university staff adopt mindfulness practices during four distinct periods: morning, midday, on the spot and after work. The findings offer insights into how mindfulness practices can be differentiated based on various times and contexts and how these differences can be linked to specific workplace outcomes. Based on the job demands–resources theory, our findings highlight the importance of a supportive organizational environment for sustaining mindfulness practices for stress reduction in university settings. Such an environment may encompass discrete spaces (e.g., prayer rooms or private offices), natural elements (e.g., trees, avian presence, greenery), communal support and the use of mobile applications. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of mindfulness practices in specific times and contexts for workplace benefits and a supportive organizational environment, thereby sustaining mindfulness practices at work to enhance stress reduction and productivity among university staff.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... 2017 Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system 2004 Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context 2001 Qualitative study n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators 2013 Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

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