Integrating socio-cognitive mindfulness and coaching psychology: An intervention development study

Abstract

Introduction:The literature suggests that socio-cognitive mindfulness (Langer, 1989) is a suitable theory from which to develop a wellbeing coaching intervention due to its focus on environmental mastery and its links to increased wellbeing outcomes. The purpose of this study is to outline the process and the emerging findings of developing a coaching intervention based on the evidence-based strategies of socio-cognitive mindfulness.Methods:The Medical Research Council’s updated framework for developing complex interventions has been used to guide the research methods chosen to design this coaching intervention (Skivington et al., 2021). The accumulated findings from three previous studies were triangulated to refine the programme theory of the intervention. The lead researcher incorporated her practice reflections as a coaching psychologist into the programme theory to operationalise the logic model into a prototype of the intervention.Findings:A logic model was produced to articulate the findings of the method triangulation and the resulting programme theory. The mechanisms of the model include the establishment of a safe and personalised coaching environment where key coaching processes help to facilitate the activation of socio-cognitive mindfulness. By repeatedly stimulating and integrating states of socio-cognitive mindfulness into daily routines over an extended period, participants can potentially develop trait socio-cognitive mindfulness and increase the chances of sustaining meaningful wellbeing outcomes.Conclusion:As the logic model is still hypothetical at this point, the intervention prototype should now be feasibility tested prior to a full study to address some of the outstanding key uncertainties, such as who the intervention appeals to, whether participants adhere to the programme as intended and which wellbeing measures are most likely to improve.