Mindfulness as a moderator of associations between intergroup bias and psychological health: A scoping review
Marina M Doucerain1, Sarah Benkirane1
1Departement de Psychologie, Universite du Quebec a Montreal.
Objectives:
The health repercussions of intergroup bias on members of minoritized groups are massive. This scoping review examines the available peer-reviewed evidence on mindfulness as a moderator of associations between intergroup bias and psychological health indicators.
Method:
Peer-reviewed studies of mindfulness moderating associations between intergroup bias and psychological health indicators through May 2024 were surveyed, with no limitations in terms of intergroup bias variety, study context, participants' characteristics, or date of publication. Sixteen articles were eligible and reviewed.
Results:
Trait mindfulness moderated negative associations between intergroup bias and psychological health indicators in most studies reviewed, such that the associations are reduced or disappear at high, compared to low, levels of trait mindfulness.
Conclusions:
Important caveats of this protective role of mindfulness are discussed, such as the lack of diversity in mindfulness research and interventions, and the potentially silencing effect of mindfulness as construed in mainstream Western contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
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