Mindfulness as a Buffer of Leaders' Self-Rated Behavioral Responses to Emotional Exhaustion: A Dual Process Model of Self-Regulation.
Megan M Walsh, Kara A Arnold
Frontiers in Psychology 2018 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02498 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 505 |
| Population | Leaders |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Abusive supervision Dual process theory Negative affect Perspective taking Transformational leadership |
| Key findings | Leader perspective taking and negative affect mediated the relationships between leaders' emotional exhaustion and their self-rated transformational leadership and abusive supervision. Leader mindfulness buffered the relationship between emotional exhaustion and negative affect, weakening the mediated relationship between emotional exhaustion and both leadership behaviors, but did not moderate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and perspective taking. |
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the self-regulatory role of mindfulness in buffering the relationship between leaders' emotional exhaustion and self-rated leadership behavior (transformational leadership and abusive supervision). Specifically, we propose that leader mindfulness buffers the relationship between emotional exhaustion and both negative affect and impaired perspective taking, which link leader emotional exhaustion and leadership behavior (i.e., moderated mediation). Using a time-lagged survey of leaders (N = 505) we found that leader perspective taking and negative affect mediated the relationships between emotional exhaustion and self-reported leadership behavior. Furthermore, we found that leader mindfulness buffers the relationship between emotional exhaustion and negative affect, which weakened the mediated relationship between emotional exhaustion and both transformational leadership and abusive supervision. However, leader mindfulness did not moderate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and perspective taking. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- Impact of mindfulness on the neural responses to emotional pictures in experienced and beginner meditators. Neuroimage August 15, 2011
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on medical and premedical students. Journal of Behavioral Medicine December 1998