The impact of an organizational-level mindfulness-based intervention on workplace social capital and psychological safety: A qualitative content analysis

Emilie Hasager Bonde; Eva Gemzøe Mikkelsen; Lone Overby Fjorback; Lise Juul

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1112907

The impact of an organizational-level mindfulness-based intervention on workplace social capital and psychological safety: A qualitative content analysis

Front Psychol. 2023 Mar 7:14:1112907. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1112907. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Emilie Hasager Bonde¹, Eva Gemzøe Mikkelsen², Lone Overby Fjorback¹, Lise Juul¹

Affiliations

¹ Danish Center for Mindfulness, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
² Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

Abstract

Background: Through the past decades, the mental health of the European population has been continuously declining. Social relations in various spheres of life, including workplace settings, have been shown to impact mental health. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been found effective in enhancing well-being, and reducing perceived stress, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Research into mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in workplace settings has shown that these interventions may positively affect workplace outcomes, such as interpersonal relations. However, research regarding the organizational impacts of MBIs is still nascent. The objective of this study was to investigate how an organizational-level mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) including a workplace-adapted MBSR programme may impact workplace social capital and psychological safety.

Methods: Four small and medium-sized private companies were included in this study, representing 368 employees and managers. The intervention consisted of three steps: 1. Mandatory participation in introductory sessions on mental health and mindfulness, 2. Voluntary participation in a 10-week workplace-adapted MBSR programme, and 3. A workshop for selected employee representatives and managers on further implementation of mindfulness. Data was collected using pre and post-intervention focus group interviews. In total, 27 interviews including 76 respondents were conducted. Verbatim transcription was performed. Data was analyzed using deductive content analysis with theoretical frameworks for social capital and psychological safety.

Results: The analysis resulted in three main categories: 1. Social capital (1.1. bonding social capital, 1.2. bridging social capital, 1.3. linking social capital), 2. Psychological safety, and 3. Emergent theme: The role of lockdown on the perceived organizational impact of a workplace MBI. The greatest impact was found relating to the bridging social capital, i.e., social capital between departments, and psychological safety among colleagues at the same level of employment.

Conclusion: The results indicate that company participation in this organizational-level MBI including a workplace-adapted MBSR programme may positively impact social relations at work, especially the bridging social capital and psychological safety between colleagues at the same level of employment. These results may have been influenced by lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: mental health promotion and prevention; mindfulness; psychological safety; psychosocial work environment; qualitative methods; social capital; workplace.