What outcomes have mindfulness and meditation interventions for managers and leaders achieved? A systematic review
E. Donaldson-Feilder, Rachel Lewis, J. Yarker
European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology November 14, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/1359432x.2018.1542379 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Managers and leaders, as covered in the 19 reviewed studies |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The review reports encouraging but variable evidence that mindfulness and meditation interventions may improve leaders' and managers' well-being, resilience, and leadership capability, possibly including "post-conventional" leadership. No evidence was found on benefits for participants' direct reports, and the studies gave little indication of which interventions work best, in what context, or for whom. Interventions increased measured mindfulness, but whether this was the mechanism behind other outcomes was not examined. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT No systematic review had previously been conducted examining the benefits mindfulness or meditation interventions for leaders and managers. However, the literature suggested that such interventions would have a positive impact on leaders’ own well-being, their leadership capability, their “post-conventional” leadership capacity, and their direct reports. The purpose of this study was therefore to systematically review research on mindfulness or meditation interventions for managers and leaders. Our review identified 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate some encouraging signs that mindfulness and meditation interventions may improve aspects of leaders’/managers’ well-being and resilience, and leadership capability, possibly including their “post-conventional” leadership, but research results are very variable in quality and strength, and there was no evidence on benefits for participants’ direct reports. The studies reviewed explored a diversity of interventions, but provided little insight into which mindfulness and meditation interventions for managers and leaders are most effective, in what context they are best applied, or for whom they are most suitable. While the sub-set of studies that measured mindfulness found that the interventions used did increase participants’ mindfulness, there was no exploration of whether improved mindfulness was the mechanism by which other positive outcomes were achieved.
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
Cited by 14
- Contemplative interventions and employee distress: A meta-analysis. Stress and Health March 15, 2019
- Be(com)ing other-oriented: Mindfulness-trained leaders’ experiences of their enhanced social awareness Management Learning November 23, 2022
- Mindfulness in Politics: A Qualitative Study on Mindfulness Training in the UK Parliament. Mindfulness May 29, 2023
- Pilot study of an online brief mindfulness-based intervention to improve the well-being of managers and reduce their stress at work. International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE September 1, 2024
- Improving Health and Reducing Absence Days at Work: Effects of a Mindfulness- and Skill-Based Leadership Intervention on Supervisor and Employee Sick Days Mindfulness June 29, 2023
and 9 more in the library
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
and 7 more in the library