Mindfulness and Group Performance: An Exploratory Investigation into the Effects of Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Group Task Performance

Abstract

With much investigation done on the effects of mindfulness in the area of health and well-being, research in other areas remains lacking. This current study aimed to address this gap in the research by examining the effects of mindfulness training on task performance, further highlighting a possible association between increased group performance as a result of mindfulness training and increased group cohesion. This current study also aimed to add qualitatively to the research by examining Irish attitudes towards the concept of mindfulness. Participants took part in a 10-min mindfulness intervention (or 10-min control intervention), after which they completed a 40-min group decision-making task. Results suggest that mindfulness does have a positive effect on group performance with participants in the mindfulness condition scoring significantly higher on the group task. Results also supported a possible association between group performance and group cohesion. In investigating Irish attitudes, findings revealed a high level of openness, with self-reported open-mindedness and perceived importance accounting for these attitudes. Findings also revealed a high level of pre-existing knowledge of the concept of mindfulness. These findings may serve as a catalyst for further investigation, with future research continuing the investigation on a larger scale, incorporating larger sample sizes, more exact measures, and also extending its ecological validity within more diverse populations.