A Multidisciplinary Scoping Review of Literature Focused on Compassion, Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, or Mindfulness Behaviors and Working with the Public

Abstract

This multidisciplinary scoping review was conducted to understand how best to enforce behaviors to assist library employees in interacting with a diverse population in a more positive way. The scoping review as a methodology was selected for its robust structure and adaptability for exploring a broad research question. Studies were included if they contained one of four behaviors: empathy, compassion, mindfulness, or emotional intelligence. Studies also had to include participants who interacted with the public. The studies were then analyzed descriptively and thematically. The findings of the review indicate that empathy is the most commonly taught behavior, with long-term and short-term interventions being used the most.

Keywords:

• Scoping review
• mindfulness
• compassion
• emotional intelligence
• empathy
• intervention
• research methods
• behaviors

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the succession of graduate students, administrators, and colleagues that helped us complete this research.

Disclosure statement

There are no financial or business conflicts to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Campus Research Board at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.