Our research

There is a rapidly growing body of research evidence supporting the benefits of leaders’ “inner work” for their employees, their organisations, and for leaders themselves. This inner work includes mindfulness, focus, calmness under pressure, clarity of purpose, empathy and humanity. Here is some James’ own research in these areas, published in leading international peer-reviewed journals:

Donald, J. N., Ciarrochi, J., & Guo, J. (2022).

Connected or Cutoff? A 4-Year Longitudinal Study of the Links Between Compulsive Internet Use and Social Support. 

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 01461672221127802.

Ryan, R., Donald, J.N., and Bradshaw, E. (2021)

'Mindfulness and Motivation: A Process View Using Self-Determination Theory'

Current Directions in Psychological Science, Blackwell Publishers, United States, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 300-306.

Donald, J.N., Bradshaw, E. L., Conigrave, J., Byatt, L., Noetel, M., Parker, P. D., Ryan, R. M. (2021)

'Paths to the light and dark sides of human nature: A meta-analytic review of the prosocial benefits of autonomy and the antisocial costs of control'

Psychological Bulletin, American Psychological Association, United States, vol. 147, no. 9, pp. 921-946.

Donald, J.N, Bradshaw, E.L., Ryan, R., Basarkod, G., Ciarrochi, J., Duineveld, J., Guo, J., Sahdra, B.K. (2020)

'Mindfulness and Its Association with Varied Types of Motivation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis using Self-Determination Theory'

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Sage Publications, vol. 46, no. 7.

Donald, J.N., Johnson, A., Nguyen, H. (2020)

'Workplace well-being: A critical review and the case of mindfulness-based programs'

in Contemporary Issues in Work and Organisations: Actors and Institutions, ed. R. D. Lansbury AJ, Routledge, Abingdon, United Kingdom, pp. 224-236.

Donald, J. N., Ciarrochi, J., Parker, P. D., Sahdra, B. K., Marshall, S. L., & Guo, J. (2017).

A worthy self is a caring self:

Examining the developmental relations between self‐esteem and self‐compassion.

Journal of Personality, 86, 619-630.

Donald, J. N., Sahdra, B. K., van Zanden, B., Duineveld, J.J.M., Atkins, P.W.B., Marshall, S. M., & Ciarrochi, J. (in press, accepted July 12, 2018).

Does your mindfulness benefit others?

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between mindfulness and prosocial behavior.

British Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12338

Donald, J. N., Atkins, P. W, Parker, P. D., Christie, A. M., & Guo, J. (2016).

Cognitive defusion predicts more approach and less avoidance coping with stress, independent of threat and self-efficacy appraisals.

Journal of Personality, March.

Christie, A. M., Atkins, P. W. & Donald, J. N. (2016).

The meaning and doing of mindfulness:

The role of values in the link between mindfulness and well-being.

Mindfulness, 1-11.

Donald, J. N., Atkins, P. W, Parker, P. D., Christie, A. M., & Ryan, R. M. (2016).

Daily stress and the benefits of mindfulness:

Examining the daily and longitudinal relations between present-moment awareness and stress responses.

Journal of Research in Personality, 65: 30-37.