Editorial: Applications of mindfulness in media and communication studies.

Abstract

Mindfulness has traditionally been studied as a psychological capacity centered on present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental attention. In the digital age, however, mindfulness is increasingly being reframed as a media-facing self-regulation capacity: it can buffer against technology-related stressors, reshape media consumption patterns, and support healthier engagement in online social life.The studies in this Research Topic reflect several methodological and conceptual shifts. First, mindfulness is increasingly modeled as a moderator that dampens harmful media effects (e.g., FOMO, fatigue, dependence-related sleep impairment).Second, it is also examined as a mediator that channels cognitive and emotional processes toward adaptive outcomes (e.g., career decision-making efficacy, perceived support via improved relationships). Third, the field is expanding toward technology-forward contexts, including AI adoption and VR-based training, as well as toward ethics and social harmony, where mindful media engagement becomes relevant to tolerance, peace, and responsible news use. (1) Conceptual and normative reframings of mindfulness in media and communication "Framing the mind: media, metaphors, and mindfulness" Meaden offers a conceptual contribution on how media metaphors shape public understandings of mindfulness. By treating framing as a cognitive bridge between media discourse and contemplative practice, this article provides a valuable theoretical entry point for communication scholars seeking to examine mindfulness as a culturally mediated construct (Meaden).This contribution is important because it helps position mindfulness not merely as a private psychological state, but as a communicative process within the self that is continually shaped by attention, interpretation, and reflection in mediated environments (Bainbridge et al.)."How should we approach negative news in the media? A 'mindful' and 'harmonious' consumption of negative news by users might be an answer" Shabahang and Weber proposes a normative approach to negative news consumption. This article is especially timely because chronic exposure to distressing information has become a defining condition of contemporary media life, making mindful and balanced engagement an increasingly relevant communicative practice (Shabahang and Weber). Taken together, the contributions in this Research Topic suggest that mindfulness has become a highly relevant construct for media and communication research in at least three important ways. First, mindfulness functions as a buffer against the psychological and behavioral strains of platform-based life, including fear of missing out, social media fatigue, dependence-related outcomes, and academic disruption.Second, mindfulness is increasingly being incorporated into technology-oriented frameworks, particularly in relation to AI adoption, AI literacy, and AI competence, underscoring its growing relevance in emerging communication environments. Third, mindfulness helps connect individual self-regulation to broader relational, societal, and ethical concerns by offering a useful lens for understanding prosociality, tolerance, peace, and more reflective engagement with negative news.Collectively, this Research Topic shows that mindfulness is not merely a wellbeing technique or personal coping strategy. Rather, it is a communication-relevant construct that shapes how individuals attend to media, interpret mediated content, regulate digital habits, and engage with others under conditions of constant connectivity.Building on the evidence and ideas assembled in this Research Topic, future research may benefit from several directions: longitudinal designs to test durability of effects; cross-cultural comparisons to clarify cultural boundary conditions; mixed-methods approaches to connect mechanisms with lived experience; and design-oriented research examining how platform features and algorithmic architectures can support (or undermine) mindful engagement.As we conclude this Research Topic on "Applications of Mindfulness in Media and Communication Studies, " we extend our sincere gratitude to all authors, reviewers, and editors who contributed to this collection. The research presented here highlights mindfulness as a timely and versatile framework for understanding mediated lifespanning mental health, education, technology adoption, ethics, and immersive intervention design.In an age where media environments increasingly shape attention, emotion, and social relationships, mindfulness offers more than individual relief; it provides a pathway toward more reflective, balanced, and responsible engagement with digital communication.