Leadership support and the informal practice of mindfulness in the military.

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

While research has documented the beneficial effects of greater formal as well as informal mindfulness practice in mindfulness training programs, it is less clear what drives informal practice engagement. In a high-stakes occupational context like the military, where performance is paramount, leader behaviors that support mindfulness training may influence individuals' engagement in informal practice. In a study assessing a combined mindfulness training and yoga intervention, 813 soldiers attending 10 weeks of basic combat training were surveyed at two time points about their informal practice of mindfulness and their perceptions of leader support for mindfulness training. More than one third of participants reported engaging in informal practice at least 3 days per week (343 [48.0%] at 4 weeks and 249 [36.9%] at 9 weeks); participants most frequently reported informally practicing when they felt stressed in training or in the barracks. Individuals reporting higher levels of leadership support for mindfulness training were more likely to report engaging in informal practice compared to those with lower levels of leadership support. This analysis controlled for sex, rank, previous mindfulness experience, and overall leadership ratings. The relationship between leader support for mindfulness and informal mindfulness practice was also found when examined in terms of specific practice contexts (e.g., engaging in a task, getting stressed). Exploratory models assessing group-level ratings of leadership resulted in similar findings. Future implementation efforts should further examine the influence of leader support for mindfulness training in the military and other high-stakes occupational contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).