Abstract
Many previous studies have shown that meditation practice has a positive impact on cognitive and non-cognitive functioning, which are related to job performance. Thus, the aims of this study were to (1) estimate the prevalence of meditation practice, (2) identify the characteristics of individuals who practice meditation, and (3) examine the association between meditation practice and job performance. Two population-based, cross-sectional surveys were conducted. In study 1, we examined the prevalence of meditation practice and the characteristics of the persons practicing meditation; in Study 2, we examined the association between meditation practice and job performance. The outcome variables included work engagement, subjective job performance, and job satisfaction. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was used to assess work engagement, the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ) was used to measure subjective job performance, and a scale developed by the Japanese government was used to assess job satisfaction. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used in Study 2. Demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors were included as covariates in the analyses. The results of Study 1 indicated that 3.9% of persons surveyed (n = 30,665) practiced meditation; these individuals were younger and had a higher education, higher household income, higher stress level, and lower body mass index than those who did not practice meditation. The results of Study 2 (n = 1,470) indicated that meditation practice was significantly predictive of work engagement (β = 0.112, p < .001), subjective job performance (β = 0.116, p < .001), and job satisfaction (β = 0.079, p = .002), even after adjusting for covariates (β = 0.083, p < .001; β = 0.104, p < .001; β = 0.060, p = .015, respectively). The results indicate that meditation practice may positively influence job performance, including job satisfaction, subjective job performance, and work engagement.
Highlights
The improvement of employee job performance has been an issue of interest in the fields of management, occupational health, and organizational psychology [1]
The two groups differed in gender; the proportion of female participants was higher in the group that practiced meditation (59.5%) than in the group that did not practice meditation (32.0%)
The results of the present study indicated that there was an association between meditation practice and the outcome variables, including subjective job performance, work engagement, and job satisfaction
Summary
The improvement of employee job performance has been an issue of interest in the fields of management, occupational health, and organizational psychology [1]. It is well documented that cognitive intelligence is positively associated with job performance [2]. Researchers have focused on non-cognitive factors that are positively associated with job performance. Higher emotional intelligence has been linked to better job performance [3, 4], as has motivation, which can be fostered by vocational interest [5]. One promising intervention that may improve individual job performance is meditation practice. Meditation practice may be an effective intervention strategy to improve job performance in the business world
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