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Mindfulness and psychological capital: examining the role of intention from the person perspective in a multi-week mindfulness training program

Ellen Choi (Department of OB/HRM, Ted Rogers School of Business, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada)
Nadège Levallet (University of Maine System, Orono, Maine, USA)
Mehak Bharti (Ted Rogers School of Business, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 9 May 2024

Issue publication date: 16 October 2024

223

Abstract

Purpose

When evaluating the efficacy of mindfulness interventions, most studies take a linear approach to explore how an intervention impacts different outcomes for individuals, and rarely is the role of intention examined. This research takes a configural approach to consider how various elements of a participant’s training expectations and their experience in the training condition combine to predict increases in psychological capital.

Design/methodology/approach

Employees from hospital settings were randomized into three conditions (mindfulness training, active control (Pilates), and wait-list control group) and completed surveys at three time points (baseline, post-training and three months post-training). A qualitative comparative analysis was applied to see what combinations of motivational elements were associated with increases in psychological capital.

Findings

We find that all three conditions can boost their psychological capital based on different configurations involving efficacy beliefs, baseline states of well-being (psychological capital and perceived stress) and changes in levels of mindfulness and perceived stress.

Research limitations/implications

Individual characteristics, like motivation, expectancy and baseline needs, are an important consideration in addition to the training condition itself when determining whether a training is efficacious.

Practical implications

It is of increasing importance that organizations find ways to support employee well-being. Offering a variety of psychological and physical interventions can improve psychological capital. Applying needs assessments that clarify the desires, needs and expectations employees hold may help with intervention efficacy.

Originality/value

The current study offers an innovative methodology through which realist evaluation approaches can consider multiple factors to predict outcomes.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Paul Smits and Michael Apollo for their help in coordinating and facilitating the mindfulness training.

Citation

Choi, E., Levallet, N. and Bharti, M. (2024), "Mindfulness and psychological capital: examining the role of intention from the person perspective in a multi-week mindfulness training program", Personnel Review, Vol. 53 No. 7, pp. 1885-1908. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-06-2023-0512

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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