Mindfulness in Communication: Examining the Behavioral Trail of Mindfulness Training

Abstract

Mindfulness, rooted in ancient tradition and contemporary research, has garnered recognition for its effectiveness in stress reduction and psychological well-being. Recent research expands mindfulness applications to everyday contexts, emphasizing its interpersonal implications. This study sought to explore how mindfulness influences interpersonal communication by addressing a gap in understanding its behavioral manifestations and causal relationships. By testing a brief online mindfulness intervention against control groups, this study found an effect of mindfulness training on behavior in initial interactions, contributing to the growing field of interpersonal mindfulness research. Specifically, results showed support for increased acceptance and awareness behavior in the mindfulness intervention group compared to the passive (i.e., no-task) control group, indicating subtle changes in initial interactions. There were also significant correlations between observed ratings of attentiveness and awareness gathered from trained raters and post-interaction evaluations completed by conversation partners. While the study provides valuable insights, limitations in experimental design and interpretation highlight the need for further research in this area.