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Mapping mindfulness: a systematic review and a framework for developing organizational mindfulness capability

Vaishali Jadon, Pearl Malhotra

International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior August 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1108/ijotb-02-2026-0054 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Systematic review Peer reviewed
Population Peer-reviewed articles on workplace mindfulness
Topics Meditation
Key findings The review finds limited attention to multi-level outcomes and a gap in exploring mindfulness as a moderator, and proposes a resource-based view framework positioning mindfulness as a strategic asset that enhances employee well-being and organizational effectiveness.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to synthesize workplace mindfulness literature, identify research gaps, and propose a future agenda. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of 53 peer-reviewed articles was conducted to examine the antecedents, mechanisms and outcomes of mindfulness at individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels.

Findings: The review reveals limited attention to multi-level outcomes and identifies a gap in exploring mindfulness as a moderator. It identifies a lack of structured approaches to building mindfulness as an organizational capability. A conceptual framework grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) is proposed, positioning mindfulness as a strategic asset that enhances employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. Research limitations/implications The review is limited to 53 articles. Nonetheless, it offers insights for advancing multilevel and theory-driven research on mindfulness. Practical implications The findings guide HRM and management practitioners in designing targeted mindfulness interventions to foster well-being, productivity and resilience. Originality/value This study provides a multi-level view of mindfulness, highlights its strategic potential and offers a research agenda to guide future inquiry.

Comparable studies

Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations 2014 Meta-analysis n = 3,515
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects 2009 Systematic review and meta-analysis
The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators 2012 Meta-analysis n = 163
Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission 2016 Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials n = 1,258
Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials 2011 Systematic review

Citations in the library

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