Mindfulness as a Tool for Stress Management in the Interpreting Process: Insights from Prospective Interpreters

Under the types of interpreting, consecutive, simultaneous and conference interpreting take place. Just as different strategies are used during the interpreting processes, there are also different preparation stages. Interpreters’ levels of anxiety, mindfulness, and stress are expected to have a significant impact on the quality of translation processes. This research investigates the relationship between mindfulness and perceived stress levels among interpreting students in a higher education context. Drawing on both cognitive and somatic dimensions of mindfulness, the research aims to determine the extent to which mindfulness influences students’ stress management and coping abilities during interpreting training. Quantitative data were collected through validated scales measuring overall mindfulness, its subcomponents, and perceived stress. This research aims to have a survey with students who have already taken and are still taking courses related to interpreting. This study encompasses nine distinct research questions. The relationships between mindfulness and stress, as well as the interplay among interpreting, mindfulness levels, and stress, were examined and analysed. The findings reveal statistically significant relationships between mindfulness and reduced stress, also suggest that students with higher levels of mindfulness are better equipped to regulate emotional and physiological responses to stress, especially in performance-driven interpreting tasks. Based on the results, several pedagogical recommendations are proposed, including integrating mindfulness practices into interpreting curricula, offering dedicated training, and encouraging the use of digital tools that promote self-regulation. This research contributes to the emerging literature on psychological resilience in interpreter training and offers valuable insights for curriculum designers, educators, and researchers in Translation and Interpreting Studies.