A Sense of Fellowship: Mindfulness Improves Experienced Interpersonal Benefits and Prosociality in A Military Aviation Unit

Figures & data

Figure 1. The Grounded Theory (GT) model of the processes facilitating an increased sense of fellowship in a Norwegian military aviation unit participating in mindfulness-based training (MBT). The numbers in brackets () denote the number of participants referring to a given category

Table 1. Summary of the interview data

FELLOWSHIP
- Our work environment has become, if possible, even better. We talk more openly about problems … seem more socially committed and try to solve problems as a group (P53). - We became closer, regardless of the group we belonged to [i.e., technical, operational, or administration] … People have gotten to know each other more deeply and the MT sessions really created new bonds between us all (P6). - We became more aware and attuned to ourselves and the people around us … we became much more connected, and now [after the MT intervention], we can easily solve difficult problems among ourselves (P48). - The MT has made me feel safer among others and has given me a confidence that I can act in appropriate ways even when things are at their most difficult (P24).
PRIMARY CHANGE PROCESSES
Self-observation (18): The ability to be consciously aware of personal emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.	- After the daily MT sessions, I could more easily sense what I was feeling. This has made it easier for me to convey my feelings, but also to understand what others feel … this [self-observation] has really brought me closer to and improved my relationships with others (P71). - I have become more observant of what I am thinking and feeling before I act in daily life (P44). - By turning on my senses, MT made me see myself and my colleagues as human beings … and not as machines (P48). I have become aware of times when I am inattentive. This awareness decreases the chance of reacting and acting in automatic and habitual ways, especially toward others (P53).
Attention to others (11) The ability to be aware and perceptually attuned to the messages and behaviors of others.	- I see people in a different way now. I see them more, and I see them in detail … how they behave, how they act, and what they are trying to communicate … and I have realized how much information actually is non-verbal (P37). - By being really perceptually attuned to others, you catch the essence of what they are saying. You pay attention to how they express themselves and behave or don’t behave. Then, I can better figure out the underlying reasons for what they are saying or doing … and what their needs are (P34). - I can sit down and just listen to people … I just turn toward them and really listen when they are talking (P53). - I have become aware of the fact that it is not good to focus on other things when you have a conversation with other people … it makes them feel less important and is a bad way of communicating (P6). -I became more sensitive and aware of coworkers disrupting conversations … I also became a bit more judgmental and irritated by coworkers who I felt stressed themselves unnecessarily (P4).
Reflection (13) More thorough thinking and consideration about one’s own and others’ experiences, actions, and behaviors.	- I have started thinking about what I say to others … thinking more about how I feel and what signals I am sending. This really improved my relationships with my colleagues (P43). - I think MT made us see things more deeply, but without losing perspective (P48). - Before the project period, it was difficult to gather all my thoughts. They were just spinning around, and I could act somewhat out of control. I act more rationally now (P24). - I have started to think more in difficult situations. This has enabled me not to let things escalate into conflicts (P66).
CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR
Direct- communication (14) A tendency to be assertive and open when approaching others, including increased consistency between body and language.	- … It is easier to be open toward one another after the (MT) course … there is more room to discuss negative things and how to change them. This has really increased trust and honesty (P53). - After the MT, I am better at saying things I think, and I say them earlier … I don’t say everything that comes to mind, but it can be negative things I want changed. The good thing is that I also remember to give positive feedback and compliments to people near me, not just think I should do it (P5). - I am better at filtering the stuff that comes out of my mouth. For instance, I am more conscious when I get caught in an argument. I am more factual, and I don’t just say the things that are on my mind (P4).
Increased patience (12) A capacity to stay composed and tolerate delays without giving in to impulsiveness.	- I have become more aware that it is smart to think before you react – especially to something people have said or done. I remind myself to wait a bit so I can have a chance to think … not only when I am angry, but also when I am eager. I have understood that bursting out with what I think is not always the smartest thing to do … not if I want other people to listen to me (P36). - People at the squadron seem to be able to work better together as a group. They listen to each other more, instead of instantly trying to find counter-arguments and start discussions (P66). - I believe this shift [toward becoming more patient] developed as a result of being aware of the tendency for my mind to wander during daily life … and my increased ability to focus and just keep observing instead of merely reacting like I always used to do … with no conscious awareness whatsoever (P53).
Decreased anger expression (9) A tendency to act in a friendlier and more compassionate way.	- I have become nicer toward people … before, I tended to have a blunt and even hostile attitude toward my younger colleagues, but not anymore … I have started to care more about them (P59). - It is a lot easier for me to not just “fire up” during a discussion … I can take a step back and reflect upon what is occurring […] (P70). - What feels really good is that we [at the squadron] don’t have that many angry outbursts anymore, but at the same time, people seem to have become more involved and committed to their work (P36).
Calmness (8) An ability to remain relaxed and at ease in situations where one previously experienced tension and excess arousal.	- I can see MT has made me calmer in daily life, which has really helped me to become more patient and tolerant toward others (P55). - … many seem calmer and I think we use our time in the right places instead of stressing. I think that is really great, because when I see that the tense people who surround me every day are now able to relax, it makes my shoulders more relaxed, too (P47). - We have gotten to know one another. We are still just as ambitious, but people don’t seem as stressed after taking 10 minutes [of meditation] almost every morning (P24). - The more difficult a situation is and the more temperament and feelings people express, the more I feel I can stay calm (P66).
c) Acceptance (6) A tendency to value and apply a more accepting attitude toward oneself and others, and not to be overly critical or judgmental.	- I think I became more accepting through MT … when I regularly practice being observant of myself in the MT exercises, I experience a large effect both toward myself and in how I relate to the people around me (P70). - I try not to let other people’s attitudes toward certain people influence what I should think. Instead, I try to be open and take time to get to know people (P53). - I try not to judge myself and other people so negatively … not immediately. Generally, I try to be more positive toward things, not to be so pessimistic (P26).
CONTEXTUAL FACTORS
Plenary sessions	- It helps a lot to have MT at work [and not at home] … the meditation creates a routine and fellowship which has created big changes at work (P19).
Sharing experiences	- Hearing that others were not only experiencing the training as easy and beneficial, but also challenging, created a mutual understanding between us (P2)
Doing something new together	- It is like you meet your colleagues in a new way, because we had something totally different to talk about, and this [doing something new] turned into some sort of fellowship (P68).
Sitting in silence	- The experience of being completely silent together is really special, because in some way, you become really united by it. We have developed more respect for one another, but without talking more. (P6).
The project as a whole has created a coherence between us. We have spent a lot of time together doing the exercises. We received the same basic information, did the same training, and were given the opportunity to discuss and share our experiences in groups throughout the intervention. That was important, and this combination has made us all more open, and I feel safer and more confident around my colleagues (P37).
() denotes the number of participants referring to a theme	() denotes the participant