Does Brief Mindfulness Instruction Improve Intergroup Attitudes in an Interethnic Dyadic Perspective-giving and Perspective-taking Interaction?
Katie Rodriguez, Grace Kinsky, Theresa Ngan Nguyen, Daniel R. Berry
Race and Social Problems January 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12552-026-09496-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Latinx and White non-Latinx participants in power-asymmetric dyads |
| Interventions | Mindfulness instruction Attention-based inactive audio instruction |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Empathy Empathic concern Social dominance orientation Dominance genetics Prejudice legal term Ethnic group Social relation Developmental psychology Clinical psychology Social work |
| Key findings | Mindfulness instruction interacted with perspective-takers' social dominance orientation to predict perspective-givers' empathic concern and personal distress, with benefits only when perspective-takers were low in social dominance orientation. |
Abstract
Abstract Interethnic relations are often characterized by power asymmetries, reduced empathy and compassion, and less favorable intergroup attitudes. This study examined whether brief mindfulness instruction could improve the quality of a dyadic perspective-giving and perspective-taking interaction. In a virtual setting, power-asymmetric dyads (Latinx and White non-Latinx participants) were randomly assigned to listen to a brief mindfulness, relaxation, or attention-based inactive audio instruction. Thereafter, Latinx participants shared perspectives on challenges facing their ethnic group, while White non-Latinx participants summarized their partner’s perspective. Mindfulness instruction did not produce main effects on intergroup attitudes, empathy, or compassion. Instead, mindfulness interacted with perspective-takers’ social dominance orientation to predict perspective-givers’ empathic concern and personal distress, with mindfulness benefits emerging only when perspective-takers were low in social dominance orientation. Additionally, perspective-givers receiving mindfulness instruction reported greater social connection when they held more positive pre-interaction attitudes toward Latinx individuals. Findings highlight person × context-dependent effects of mindfulness, suggesting its impact on social well-being depends on interactants’ distal and proximal social goals.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Mindfulness increases prosocial responses toward ostracized strangers through empathic concern. Journal of Experimental Psychology General 2018
- When less is more: mindfulness predicts adaptive affective responding to rejection via reduced prefrontal recruitment Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience May 24, 2018
- Short-Term Training in Mindfulness Predicts Helping Behavior Toward Racial Ingroup and Outgroup Members Social Psychological and Personality Science November 18, 2021
- The pattern theory of compassion. Trends in Cognitive Sciences May 1, 2024
and 4 more in the library