Practice makes mindful: the relationship between MBSR homework exercises and work outcomes through mindfulness

Even though mindfulness interventions have shown positive impact on employee well-being outcomes, little is known about the role of homework exercises in mindfulness and subsequent work-related outcomes. In this explorative study we evaluated the relationship between doing homework exercises during the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training and changes in mindfulness. Furthermore, we explored whether these changes in mindfulness mediated the relationship between doing homework exercises and various work-related outcomes, including work-related exhaustion, resilience, meaning-making, work engagement, learning orientation, work relations, concentration, work performance, innovativeness and flexibility. Participants from various departments in the Dutch government followed the 8-week MBSR training program provided by two mindfulness training organizations in the Netherlands. Using a quasi-experimental pre-posttest design, data from 233 participants who completed online questionnaires at the start ( t 0 ) and immediately after the training ( t 1 ) were analyzed. Data from weekly questionnaires about the frequency and duration of doing homework exercises was also analyzed. Results showed that the practice intensity (combination of the frequency and duration of doing homework exercises) during the MBSR training was moderately positively related to a change in mindfulness ( Cohen’s d = 0.30, p < 0.05). Moreover, changes in mindfulness showed significant indirect associations with changes in meaning making, resilience, work engagement, learning orientation, concentration, work performance, flexibility, and exhaustion ( Cohen’s d ranging from 0.39 to 0.66, p < 0.01). However, changes in mindfulness did not show a significant relationship with work relations and innovativeness. This article highlights the potential role of homework practice intensity in achieving positive outcomes from MBSR training on mindfulness skills and subsequent workplace outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed as well as avenues for future research.