Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How

In the mindfulness field, reviews of its clinical effects prevail, along with critical articles on its applications serving neoliberalism. Conversely, less is known of the psychosocial perspective on mindfulness. To address this question, knowledge needs to be gathered on the applied fields and rese...

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Main Authors: Philippine Chachignon, Emmanuelle Le Barbenchon, Lionel Dany
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2025-07-01
Series:International Review of Social Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.rips-irsp.com/index.php/up-j-irsp/article/view/1000
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author Philippine Chachignon
Emmanuelle Le Barbenchon
Lionel Dany
author_facet Philippine Chachignon
Emmanuelle Le Barbenchon
Lionel Dany
author_sort Philippine Chachignon
collection DOAJ
description In the mindfulness field, reviews of its clinical effects prevail, along with critical articles on its applications serving neoliberalism. Conversely, less is known of the psychosocial perspective on mindfulness. To address this question, knowledge needs to be gathered on the applied fields and research topics, theoretical frameworks, study designs and methodologies mobilized, main results and levels of explanation in social psychology. We conducted an integrative review of the literature in February 2022, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses methodology using PsychInfo/PsychArticles. One hundred and nine papers met the inclusion criteria. Applied fields encompass well-being, daily social relationships, health and organizations. Only 21 references were embedded in theories. Forty-two percent of the theories were identified as social psychology theories. Most studies were correlational (46%) or experimental (47%) with quantitative methods. The effects of mindfulness are primarily beneficial, with a strong focus on emotion regulation and stress management at both intra- and inter-individual levels, while less attention is given to group or ideological contexts. We argue that research on mindfulness is predominantly conducted using Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic samples, often without considering participants’ socio-economic backgrounds. Additionally, the prevailing psychosocial perspective on mindfulness tends to adopt a positivist epistemology, largely situated within micro-level contexts, while overlooking the broader macro-social dimensions of human experience.
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spelling doaj-art-546530191be341ea92a9446516b2ea652025-08-21T12:36:54ZengUbiquity PressInternational Review of Social Psychology2397-85702025-07-013819910.5334/irsp.10001000Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and HowPhilippine Chachignon0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-926XEmmanuelle Le Barbenchon1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5621-0101Lionel Dany2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2350-4300Aix Marseille University, LPS, Aix-en ProvenceAix Marseille University, LPS, Aix-en ProvenceAix Marseille University, LPS, Aix-en ProvenceIn the mindfulness field, reviews of its clinical effects prevail, along with critical articles on its applications serving neoliberalism. Conversely, less is known of the psychosocial perspective on mindfulness. To address this question, knowledge needs to be gathered on the applied fields and research topics, theoretical frameworks, study designs and methodologies mobilized, main results and levels of explanation in social psychology. We conducted an integrative review of the literature in February 2022, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses methodology using PsychInfo/PsychArticles. One hundred and nine papers met the inclusion criteria. Applied fields encompass well-being, daily social relationships, health and organizations. Only 21 references were embedded in theories. Forty-two percent of the theories were identified as social psychology theories. Most studies were correlational (46%) or experimental (47%) with quantitative methods. The effects of mindfulness are primarily beneficial, with a strong focus on emotion regulation and stress management at both intra- and inter-individual levels, while less attention is given to group or ideological contexts. We argue that research on mindfulness is predominantly conducted using Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic samples, often without considering participants’ socio-economic backgrounds. Additionally, the prevailing psychosocial perspective on mindfulness tends to adopt a positivist epistemology, largely situated within micro-level contexts, while overlooking the broader macro-social dimensions of human experience.https://account.rips-irsp.com/index.php/up-j-irsp/article/view/1000mindfulnesspsychosocial perspectivesocial psychologyapplied fieldstheoretical frameworkslevels of explanationpositivist epistemology
spellingShingle Philippine Chachignon
Emmanuelle Le Barbenchon
Lionel Dany
Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How
International Review of Social Psychology
mindfulness
psychosocial perspective
social psychology
applied fields
theoretical frameworks
levels of explanation
positivist epistemology
title Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How
title_full Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How
title_fullStr Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How
title_full_unstemmed Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How
title_short Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How
title_sort mindfulness in psychosocial research an integrative literature review of what is studied and how
topic mindfulness
psychosocial perspective
social psychology
applied fields
theoretical frameworks
levels of explanation
positivist epistemology
url https://account.rips-irsp.com/index.php/up-j-irsp/article/view/1000
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AT lioneldany mindfulnessinpsychosocialresearchanintegrativeliteraturereviewofwhatisstudiedandhow