Psychological Flexibility and Compassion Training for Equality in Organizations : A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Diversity and Inclusion Intervention
(2024) In Mindfulness 15(11). p.2875-2887- Abstract
Objectives: Discrimination and prejudice are prevalent in workplaces worldwide, but there are few empirically validated interventions for combating racial bias in organizational settings. This study aims to evaluate an intervention consisting of experiential exercises derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). The objective is to address psychological processes influential in promoting inclusive and equal workplaces in relation to race/ethnicity. Method: A sample of 123 employees was randomized to an intervention or a comparison condition. The intervention involved exercises designed to increase compassion and empathic perspective-taking, decrease psychological inflexibility related to... (More)
Objectives: Discrimination and prejudice are prevalent in workplaces worldwide, but there are few empirically validated interventions for combating racial bias in organizational settings. This study aims to evaluate an intervention consisting of experiential exercises derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). The objective is to address psychological processes influential in promoting inclusive and equal workplaces in relation to race/ethnicity. Method: A sample of 123 employees was randomized to an intervention or a comparison condition. The intervention involved exercises designed to increase compassion and empathic perspective-taking, decrease psychological inflexibility related to prejudiced thoughts and racial attitudes, and enhance participants’ commitment to organizational values. Participants in the intervention group were compared to those participating in traditional diversity and inclusion lectures, which served as the comparison condition. Results: The study found that participants in the flexibility and compassion condition showed a significant increase in self-reported compassion. The results also showed a significant decrease in the participants’ inflexibility in relation to prejudiced and stigmatizing thoughts. However, no significant differences between the conditions were found regarding the endorsement of racist attitudes or empathic perspective-taking. Conclusions: This study adds to the important but limited literature on effective diversity training in organizations. It suggests that methods derived from ACT and CFT may improve workplace diversity and inclusion interventions by increasing compassion and reducing the impact of prejudiced and stigmatizing thoughts on behavior. Preregistration: The study was not preregistered.
(Less)
- author
- Wolgast, Sima Nurali LU ; Wolgast, Martin LU ; Andén af Sandeberg, Karin ; Wasif, Hira and Hoff, Eva LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Antidiscrimination, Compassion, Intervention, Perspective taking, Prejudice reduction, Psychological flexibility
- in
- Mindfulness
- volume
- 15
- issue
- 11
- pages
- 13 pages
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85208972236
- ISSN
- 1868-8527
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12671-024-02470-y
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.
- id
- 2368d031-3a51-48c9-be82-1212dc1823f0
- date added to LUP
- 2025-02-17 13:05:46
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 14:47:52
@article{2368d031-3a51-48c9-be82-1212dc1823f0,
abstract = {{<p>Objectives: Discrimination and prejudice are prevalent in workplaces worldwide, but there are few empirically validated interventions for combating racial bias in organizational settings. This study aims to evaluate an intervention consisting of experiential exercises derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). The objective is to address psychological processes influential in promoting inclusive and equal workplaces in relation to race/ethnicity. Method: A sample of 123 employees was randomized to an intervention or a comparison condition. The intervention involved exercises designed to increase compassion and empathic perspective-taking, decrease psychological inflexibility related to prejudiced thoughts and racial attitudes, and enhance participants’ commitment to organizational values. Participants in the intervention group were compared to those participating in traditional diversity and inclusion lectures, which served as the comparison condition. Results: The study found that participants in the flexibility and compassion condition showed a significant increase in self-reported compassion. The results also showed a significant decrease in the participants’ inflexibility in relation to prejudiced and stigmatizing thoughts. However, no significant differences between the conditions were found regarding the endorsement of racist attitudes or empathic perspective-taking. Conclusions: This study adds to the important but limited literature on effective diversity training in organizations. It suggests that methods derived from ACT and CFT may improve workplace diversity and inclusion interventions by increasing compassion and reducing the impact of prejudiced and stigmatizing thoughts on behavior. Preregistration: The study was not preregistered.</p>}},
author = {{Wolgast, Sima Nurali and Wolgast, Martin and Andén af Sandeberg, Karin and Wasif, Hira and Hoff, Eva}},
issn = {{1868-8527}},
keywords = {{Antidiscrimination; Compassion; Intervention; Perspective taking; Prejudice reduction; Psychological flexibility}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{11}},
pages = {{2875--2887}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Mindfulness}},
title = {{Psychological Flexibility and Compassion Training for Equality in Organizations : A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Diversity and Inclusion Intervention}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02470-y}},
doi = {{10.1007/s12671-024-02470-y}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2024}},
}