Mindfulness and Workplace Creativity: A Critical Narrative Review of Evidence from a Systematic Search
Rossella de Nisco, Paulina Lamas-Morales, Juan Antonio Torrents Arévalo
Preprints.org December 4, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.20944/preprints202512.0457.v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review (critical narrative synthesis) Randomized |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors report that the three randomized controlled trials found improvements in creativity and problem-solving, as well as in emotion regulation, working memory, and coping. Because only three heterogeneous studies were available, the authors conclude that firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn and call for stronger designs to clarify causal mechanisms. |
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and creativity in workplace settings. Because only three — and highly heterogeneous — studies met the criteria for a systematic review, the authors conducted a critical narrative synthesis instead. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (up to February 2025) following PRISMA guidelines. Included studies, using randomized or non-randomized designs, assessed effects of MBIs on creativity-related outcomes (divergent/convergent thinking, innovation, idea generation, problem solving) and secondary outcomes such as cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, working memory, adaptability and coping. The three randomized controlled trials reported improvements in creativity and problem-solving, as well as in emotion regulation, working memory and coping. However, due to the limited number and heterogeneity of studies, firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn. Nevertheless, the emerging findings highlight potential cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying the mindfulness–creativity link, offering a basis for more integrated conceptual models and evidence-based applications in organizational contexts. Further research into stronger designs is needed to clarify causal mechanisms and consolidate this relationship.
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 |