Does Mindfulness Cultivate Social Connectedness? A Narrative Review on a Novel Modality of Social Emotional Learning

The previous decade has witnessed an explosion of mindfulness research in Western psychology. Although most research has been conducted in behavioral medicine and cognitive behavior therapy, only recently have researchers begun investigation into associations between mindfulness and social connectedness. This paper conducted a literature review of fourteen empirical studies on this subject, all with nonclinical population. Findings are: (a) correlational studies demonstrated consistent, moderate positive correlations between mindfulness and connectedness (e.g., relatedness, empathy, compassion); (b) there was also a moderate positive correlation between mindfulness and satisfaction in romantic relationship; (c) interventions modeled after Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn, 1990) demonstrated positive effects on connectedness (e.g., empathy, spirituality, forgiveness); (d) a mindfulness-based intervention for relationship enhancement (MBRE) confirmed its efficacy in relationship functioning and individual well-being; and (e) no intervention research demonstrated the mediating effect of mindfulness on social outcomes. Future directions are discussed in terms of measurement and research design