The Effect of a Mindfulness Training and Yoga Intervention on Unit Cohesion in the Military

Social cohesion is critical for personnel working on teams in high-stress occupational settings like the military. Building on recent findings, we examined the potential impact of a combined mindfulness training and yoga intervention on cohesion among soldiers in Basic Combat Training. In a group randomized trial, 40 military units (n = 1,896) were randomly assigned to receive this intervention or training as usual. Surveys were administered at 4 times over 10 weeks. Mixed effects models were used to assess the impact of the intervention on cohesion across four time periods. In addition, the role of embedded individual mindfulness practice was analyzed. Results found that while there was no main effect of the intervention, soldiers who reported engaging in embedded mindfulness practice at least 3 times per week had higher sustained perceptions of cohesion compared to training as usual. Findings suggest mindfulness training and yoga may support unit cohesion in military units.