Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Mindfulness Can Make You Happy-and-Productive: A Mindfulness Controlled Trial and Its Effects on Happiness, Work Engagement and Performance

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Happiness Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A controlled trial of a Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) was conducted on a big Spanish public hospital. The intervention program was offered to the staff as an initiative to promote psychosocial health of workers. Nineteen employees participated of the program, which consisted in three 150-min sessions and other fifteen employees acted as a control group in a waiting-list format. Pre–Post evaluations of Mindfulness, Work Engagement, Happiness and Performance where taken and the data analysis suggests that the intervention program was successful in boosting the existing levels of all the evaluated variables. The practical implications of these findings suggest that shorter versions of traditional MBI programs could be an effective Healthy Organizational Practice to boost happiness and performance among healthcare professionals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, T. D., & Kiburz, K. M. (2011). Trait mindfulness and work–family balance among working parents: The mediating effects of vitality and sleep quality. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 98, 310–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, T. D., & Kiburz, K. M. (2012). Trait mindfulness and work–family balance among working parents: The mediating effects of vitality and sleep quality. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80, 372–379. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2011.09.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arias, A. J., Steinberg, K., Banga, A., & Trestman, R. L. (2006). Systematic review of the efficacy of meditation techniques as treatments for medical illness. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12, 817–832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2005). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 16, 315–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Lykins, E. L., & Peters, J. R. (2012). Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(3), 230–238. doi:10.1080/17439760.2012.674548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13(1), 27–45. doi:10.1177/1073191105283504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2008). Towards a model of work engagement. Career Development International, 13(3), 209–223. doi:10.1108/13620430810870476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., et al. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230–241. doi:10.1093/clipsy.bph077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, D. S. (2011). Mindfulness research guide: A new paradigm for managing empirical health information. Mindfulness, 1, 174–176. doi:10.1007/s12671-010-0019-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., & Cordon, S. (2009). Toward a phenomenology of mind-fulness: Subjective experience and emotional correlates. In F. Didonna (Ed.), Clinical handbook of mindfulness (pp. 59–81). New-York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., & Creswell, J. (2007). Mindfulness: Theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18(4), 211–237. doi:10.1080/10478400701598298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campos, D., Cebolla, A., Quero, S., Bretón-López, J., Botella, C., Soler, J., et al. (2015). Meditation and happiness: Mindfulness and self-compassion may mediate the meditation–happiness relationship. Personality and Individual Differences. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.08.040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, L. E., & Brown, K. W. (2005). Validation of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in a cancer population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 58, 29–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmody, J., Baer, R. A., Lykins, E. L. B., & Olendzki, N. (2009). An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 613–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiesa, A., & Serretti, A. (2011). Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 187, 441–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cropanzano, R., & Wright, T. (2001). When a “Happy” worker is really a “Productive” worker. Consulting Psychology Journal, 53(3), 182–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, C. J., Lutz, A., & Davidson, R. J. (2015). Reconstructing and deconstructing the self: Cognitive mechanisms in meditation practice. Trends in Cognitive Science, 19(9), 521–523. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2015.07.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, R., & Schuyler, B. (2015). Neuroscience of happiness. In J. Helliwell, R. Layard, & J. Sachs (Eds.), World happiness report 2015 (pp. 88–105). New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson, S., Dollwet, M., & Rao, M. (2014). Happiness, excellence and optimal human functioning revisited: Examining the peer reviewed literature linking positive psychology. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 185–195. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.943801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045–1062. doi:10.1037/a0013262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, E. L., Farb, N. A., Goldin, P. R., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2015a). Mindfulness broadens awareness and builds eudaimonic meaning: A process model of mindful positive emotion regulation. Psychological Inquiry, 26, 293–314. doi:10.1080/1047840X.2015.1064294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, E. L., Geschwind, N., Peeters, F., & Wichers, M. (2015b). Mindfulness training promotes upward spirals of positive affect and cognition: Multilevel and autoregressive latent trajectory modeling analyses. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1–13. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, E. L., Kiken, L. G., Faurot, K., Palsson, O., & Gaylord, S. A. (2016). Upward spirals of mindfulness and reappraisal: Testing the mindfulness-to-meaning theory with autoregresive latent trajectory modeling. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 40(228), 1–12. doi:10.1007/s10608-016-9768-y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geschwind, N., Peeters, F., Drukker, M., Van Os, J., & Wichers, M. (2011). Mindfulness training increases momentary positive emotions and reward experience in adults vulnerable to depression: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(5), 618–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glomb, T. M., Duffy, M. K., Bono, J. E., & Yang, T. (2012). Mindfulness at work. Research in Personnel and Human Resource Management, 30, 115–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (2006). Social intelligence: the new science of human relationships. New York: Bantam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (2013). Focus: The hidden driver of excellence. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanley, A. W., & Garland, E. L. (2014). Dispositional mindfulness co-varies with self-reported positive reappraisal. Personality and Individual Differences, 66, 146–152. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.03.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hervás, G., & Vázquez, C. (2013). Construction and validation of a measure of integrative well-being in seven languages: The Pemberton Happiness Index. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 11, 66. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-11-66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, L. (2011). Meditation, learning, organisational innovation and performance. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 111, 113–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, S., Sawyer, A., Witt, A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169–183. doi:10.1037/a0018555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollis-Walker, L., & Colosimo, K. (2011). Mindfulness, self-compassion, and happiness in non meditators: A theoretical and empirical examination. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 222–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerrasmeti, S. M., Gard, T., et al. (2011a). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research, 191(1), 36–43. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hölzel, B. K., Lazar, S. W., Gard, T., Schuman-Olivier, Z., Vago, D. R., & Ott, U. (2011b). How does mindfulness meditation work? Proposing mechanisms of action from a conceptual and neural perspective. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(6), 537–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howells, I., Ivtzan, I., & Eiroa-Orosa, F. (2014). Putting the “app” in happiness: A randomized controlled trial for a smart phone-based mindfulness intervention to enhance wellbeing. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(1), 163–185. doi:10.1007/s10902-014-9589-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hülsheger, U. R. (2015). Making sure that mindfulness is promoted in organizations in the right way and for the right goals. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 8(4), 674–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hülsheger, U. R., Alberts, H. J. E. M., Feinholdt, A., & Lang, J. W. B. (2013). Benefits of mindfulness at work: The role of mindfulness in emotion regulation, emotional exhaustion, and job satisfaction. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 98(2), 310–325. doi:10.1037/a0031313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ivtzan, I., Young, T., Martman, J., Jeffrey, A., Lomas, T., Hart, R., et al. (2016). Integrating mindfulness into positive psychology: A randomised controlled trial of an online positive mindfulness program. Mindfulness, 7(6), 1396–1407. doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0581-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living. New York: Bantam Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, W. A. (1990). Psychological conditions of personal engagement and disengagement at work. Academy of Management Journal, 33, 692–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, W. A. (1992). To be fully there: Psychological presence at work. Human Relations, 45, 321–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kornfielf, J. (2011). Teachings of the Buddha. Boston, MA: Shambala Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lama, D., & Cutler, H. C. (1998). The art of happiness. New York, NY: Riverhead Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J., & Moldoveanu, M. (2000). Mindfulness research and the future. Journal of Social Issues, 56, 129–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leroy, H., Anseel, F., Dimitrova, N. G., & Sels, L. (2013). Mindfulness, authentic functioning, and work engagement: A growth modeling approach. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 82(3), 238–247. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2013.01.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, E. K., & Creswell, D. J. (2016). Mechanisms of mindfulness training: Monitor and acceptance theory (MAT). Clinical Psychology Review, 51, 48–59. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2016.10.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutz, A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2007). Meditation and the neuroscience of consciousness. In P. D. Zelazo, M. Moscovitch, & E. Thompson (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of consciousness (pp. 499–555). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mellor, N. J., Ingram, L., Van Huizen, M., Arnold, J., & Harding, A. (2016). Mindfulness training and employee wellbeing. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 9(2), 126–145. doi:10.1108/IJWHM-11-2014-0049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nhat Hanh, T. (2006). True love: A practice for awakening the heart. Boston, MA: Shambala Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plato, T. (1921). Cratylus, Plato in twelve volumes (trans: North Fowler, H.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

  • Rahula, W. (1959). What the Buddha taught. New York, NY: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reb, J., Narayanan, J., & Whei Ho, Z. (2015). Mindfulness at work: Antecedents and consequences of employee awareness and absent mindedness. Mindfulness, 6, 111–122. doi:10.1007/s12671-013-0236-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricard, M. (2010). Why meditate. Carlsband, CA: Hay House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, B. L., Lepine, J. A., & Crawford, E. R. (2010). Job engagement: Antecedents and effects on job performance. Academy of Management Journal, 53(3), 617–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. R., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salanova, M., Llorens, S., Acosta, H., & Torrente, P. (2013). Positive interventions in Positive Organizations. Terapia Psicológica, 31(31), 101–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salanova, M., Llorens, S., Cifre, E., & Martinez, I. M. (2012). We need a hero! Toward a validation of the healthy and resilient organization (HERO) model. Group and Organization Management, 37(6), 785–822. doi:10.1177/1059601112470405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi-sample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(3), 293–315. doi:10.1002/job.248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701–716. doi:10.1177/0013164405282471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W., & Salanova, M. (2011). Work engagement: On how to better catch a slippery concept. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 20(1), 39–46. doi:10.1080/1359432X.2010.515981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoormans, D., & Nyklíček, I. (2011). Mindfulness and psychological well-being: Are they related to type of meditation technique practiced? The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(7), 629–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Astin, J. A., & Freedman, B. (2006). Mechanisms of mindfulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 373–386. doi:10.1002/jclp.20237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, S. L., & Izett, C. D. (2008). Meditation: A universal tool for cultivating empathy. In S. F. Hick & T. Bien (Eds.), Mindfulness and the therapeutic relationship (pp. 161–175). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Dunn, T. J., Singh, N. N., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014a). Meditation awareness training (MAT) for work-related wellbeing and job performance: A randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12(6), 806–823. doi:10.1007/s11469-014-9513-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013a). Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for improved psychological wellbeing: A qualitative examination of participant experiences. Journal of Religion and Health. doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9679-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014b). Meditation awareness training (MAT) for improved psychological well-being: A qualitative examination of participant experiences. Journal of Religion and Health, 53(3), 849–863. doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9679-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Slade, K., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013b). Mindfulness and other Buddhist-derived interventions in correctional settings: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18, 365–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tran, U. S., Glück, T. M., & Nader, I. W. (2013). Investigating the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ): Construction of a short form and evidence of a two-factor higher order structure of mindfulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(9), 951–965. doi:10.1002/jclp.21996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, N., Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2009). A multi-method examination of mindfulness on stress attribution, coping and emotional well-being. Journal of Research in Personality, 43, 374–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winter, J. (2013). Using the student’s t-test with extremely small sample sizes. Practical Assessment Research and Evaluation, 18(10), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolever, R. Q., Bobinet, K. J., McCabe, K., Mackenzie, E. R., Fekete, E., Kusnick, C. A., et al. (2012). Effective and viable mind-body stress reduction in the workplace: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 17(2), 246–258. doi:10.1037/a0027278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, T. A., Cropanzano, R., Denney, P. J., & Moline, G. L. (2002). When a happy worker is a productive worker: A preliminary examination of three models. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 34(3), 146–150. doi:10.1037/h0087165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeidan, F., Johnson, S. K., Diamond, B. J., David, Z., & Goolkasian, P. (2010). Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental training. Consciousness and Cognition, 19(2), 597–605. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.03.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenski, J., Murphy, S., & Jenkins, D. (2008). The happy-productive worker thesis revisited. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(4), 521–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by two grants from the Generalitat Valenciana, GRISOLIA (2014/021) and PROMETEO (2013/025).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristián Coo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Coo, C., Salanova, M. Mindfulness Can Make You Happy-and-Productive: A Mindfulness Controlled Trial and Its Effects on Happiness, Work Engagement and Performance. J Happiness Stud 19, 1691–1711 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9892-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9892-8

Keywords

Navigation