Mindfulness does not increase task performance: A study into mindfulness, arousal, task focus, and memory workload.

Abstract

Mindfulness refers to a trainable state of consciousness focused on accepting present experiences. Mindfulness meditation is increasingly popular and has found its way to organizations. On the one hand, mindfulness predicts well-being, which is well-documented. On the other hand, mindfulness could also affect task performance, which is less frequently researched. This research assumed that mindfulness training would reduce arousal and increase task focus, which should in turn be associated with better task performance on high workload tasks. Moreover, we examined the possible interactive effects of arousal reduction and memory workload. Ninety-five participants, in three experimental conditions (Mindful, Mindless, Control), performed a visual search task with two different workloads. A MANOVA was conducted to examine if mindfulness decreased arousal and increased task focus. The mindfulness condition reported lower arousal than the control condition, but not lower than the mindless condition. The groups did not differ in task focus. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to see if task focus and arousal predicted task performance and whether arousal interacted with memory workload. Contrary to the expectations, no main effect of task focus, and no interactive effects on task performance were found. Explanations of the results, alternative results, scientific and practical implications, strengths and limitations, and suggestions for future research are given in the discussion. While there does not seem to be much harm in mindfulness meditation for increasing individual workers' well-being, we see no reason to implement mindfulness programs to increase task performance.