Mindfulness: Unpacking its three shades and illuminating integrative ways to understand the construct

Abstract

Over time mindfulness research and practice has taken on diverse basic assumptions and theoretical traditions, and the pseudo‐scientific use of the term has become more prevalent. Given the ubiquitousness of both personal and professional applications of mindfulness, the need for a thorough understanding of its theoretical cornerstones is necessary. In this review, we use bibliometric techniques to uncover the field's intellectual roots (Study 1), and document bibliographic coupling analysis to illuminate current research avenues across management disciplines (Study 2). Our bibliometric process covers 48 references for co‐citation and 238 articles for bibliographic coupling analyses, respectively, published between 2012 and 2020. Co‐citation analysis reveals a shift of focus from the past two historical mindfulness schools of thought (Eastern and Western) to a novel intellectual structure of the mindfulness field articulated around three distinct yet overlapping research streams. We propose integrative ways to advance mindfulness research by unpacking mindfulness processes, dimensions and development, arguing that the integration of these three main foci is necessary to advance understanding of mindfulness. Bibliometric coupling analysis identifies eight management‐related mindfulness research themes. We discuss the extent to which these eight themes have comparably explored the three foci (mindfulness processes, dimensions and development) highlighted in our model. Lastly, we use our theory‐driven review to draw on under‐developed areas of research, identifying profitable directions for future research on mindfulness in the workplace and beyond.

Preparing for the future: understanding collective grief through the lens of the Kubler-Ross crisis cycle

“…Metacognitive practice is the underlying processes monitoring information and experience, e.g. the way we perceive and conceptualise information and experiences, enhancing the development of mindfulness through practice (Daniel et al ., 2022). As such, sensemaking, done retrospectively and a function of metacognition, is about interpreting events in such a way so as to articulate the meaning thereof in a way that it can be used as a platform for going forward (de Klerk, 2019).…”

“…These metaphors are a representation of metacognitive application. Studies have indicated, for example, that mindfulness interventions and mindfulness practice in recovery processes, provides benefits to psychological detachment, sleep quality and quantity and perceived exhaustion (Daniel et al ., 2022). Further studies indicate that metacognition practices such as mindfulness provide a buffering role of trait and state mindfulness in the relationship between work stressors (e.g., workload, organisational constraints and experienced incivility; or quantitative and emotional job demands) and well-being/strain (e.g.…”

“…Further studies indicate that metacognition practices such as mindfulness provide a buffering role of trait and state mindfulness in the relationship between work stressors (e.g., workload, organisational constraints and experienced incivility; or quantitative and emotional job demands) and well-being/strain (e.g. work stress or emotional exhaustion (Daniel et al ., 2022). Unsurprisingly therefore, even the common change management models use “shorthand” metaphors to represent these metacognitive processes such as Lewin's unfreeze, change and refreeze (Smollan, 2014).…”

Mindfulness and banking customers’ quality of life

“…Mindfulness is a useful concept for better understanding consumers' perceived value (Mick, 2017), such as the value of processing marketing information or the value of interpreting information (Daniel et al, 2022). Mindful consumers process information concerning the service attributes in an efficient (Daniel et al, 2022) and objective way (Ndubisi, 2014), which allows customers to easily identify the value of the service provided (Daniel et al, 2022;Ndubisi, 2014). Being attentive to the moment-to-moment experience makes the benefits of the services more visible to customers (Daniel et al, 2022).…”

“…Mindful consumers process information concerning the service attributes in an efficient (Daniel et al, 2022) and objective way (Ndubisi, 2014), which allows customers to easily identify the value of the service provided (Daniel et al, 2022;Ndubisi, 2014). Being attentive to the moment-to-moment experience makes the benefits of the services more visible to customers (Daniel et al, 2022). Thus:…”