The Association between Meditation Practice and Job Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Previous research indicates meditation positively impacts cognitive and non-cognitive functions relevant to job performance.
• Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of meditation practitioners is crucial for workplace wellness initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of meditation practice in the general population.
• To identify demographic and behavioral characteristics of individuals who practice meditation.
• To examine the association between meditation practice and key job performance indicators.

Main Methods:

• Two population-based, cross-sectional surveys were conducted.
• Study 1 assessed meditation prevalence and practitioner characteristics (n=30,665).
• Study 2 examined the link between meditation and job performance metrics like work engagement, subjective job performance, and job satisfaction using hierarchical multiple regression (n=1,470).

Main Results:

• 3.9% of the surveyed population practiced meditation.
• Meditation practitioners were younger, more educated, had higher incomes, higher stress levels, and lower BMIs.
• Meditation practice significantly predicted higher work engagement (β=0.112), subjective job performance (β=0.116), and job satisfaction (β=0.079), even after controlling for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Meditation practice is prevalent and associated with specific demographic and lifestyle characteristics.
• Meditation demonstrates a positive influence on crucial aspects of job performance, including engagement, subjective performance, and satisfaction.
• Findings suggest that promoting meditation may be a viable strategy for enhancing employee well-being and productivity.