The Impact of a Mindfulness Intervention on Goal Commitment

Abstract Goal commitment, the determination to reach a goal and persistence in pursuing the goal, predicts performance and well-being. Because mindfulness cultivates present-focused, nonjudgmental attention that can clarify values, reduce distractibility, and elevate positive affect, it may plausibly increase goal commitment. This study tested whether a short mindfulness exercise boosts goal commitment relative to a neutral control exercise. One hundred twenty adults (mean age = 39.82, 57% female) participated in the study. Participants identified a self-selected personal goal and then completed either a guided breath mindfulness exercise coupled with goal reflection intervention or a neutral control writing task. Goal commitment and affect were measured pre- and post-task participation; state mindfulness was assessed post-task participation. A multivariate test indicated a significant overall effect of condition, Pillai’s Trace = F(4, 115) = 8.457, p < .001, V = .227. Univariate analyses showed higher post-test goal commitment,, F (1, 118) = 18.097, p  < .001, ηp² = .133; state mindfulness, F (1, 118) = 18.647, p  < .001, ηp² = .136; and positive affect, F (1, 118) = 12.228, p  < .001, ηp² = .094, among the mindfulness condition participants than control condition participants, and no significant difference in negative affect. Experienced mindfulness and positive affect mediated the impact of the intervention on goal commitment. The findings suggest that a brief, mindfulness activity can increase commitment to a self-selected goal, alongside gains in mindfulness and positive affect, and these findings may inform strategies to enhance motivation and self-regulation related to goals in educational, clinical, and workplace settings.