Increase in Costly Help-Giving Toward a Stereotyped Group After Mindfulness Intervention

Abstract

Studies showed that mindfulness practice increases help-giving, however, there are still unanswered questions regarding the validation of this effect in different contexts. In this study, we aimed to understand the effect of mindfulness practice on costly giving and attitudes toward a stereotyped group and to test whether this effect depends on baseline empathy and self-regulation. Undergraduate students (N = 170) completed baseline questionnaires and were randomly assigned to two sessions of mindfulness, music, or lecture conditions. We found that mindfulness increased the likelihood of donation-giving to a nonprofit HIV organization, relative to control conditions. Mindfulness also strengthened the relationship between empathy and donation-giving but not between self-regulation and donation-giving. The attitude component was similar across conditions.