A longitudinal study of loving-kindness compassion, mindfulness, and psychological well-being: Cross-cultural insights from Vietnamese and American employees

Abstract

This two-wave longitudinal study investigates how loving-kindness compassion is associated with employees' psychological well-being through intrinsic motivation and self-acceptance, and how these organismic states are linked to proactive coping and relationship-maintenance behaviors. Data were collected over a one-month period. Data from 386 Vietnamese employees and 355 American respondents indicate positive time-lagged relationships among loving-kindness compassion, proactive coping, relationship-maintenance behaviors, and psychological well-being in both cultural contexts. Self-acceptance, but not intrinsic motivation, serves as a partial mediator of these effects, while mindfulness further moderates the benefits. The findings highlight the longitudinal associations among compassion and relational behaviors for well-being and underscore the importance of culturally sensitive interventions. Taken together, these findings highlight the role of compassion, mindfulness, and relational behaviors in sustaining psychological well-being across time and cultures. By demonstrating these longitudinal effects, the study provides robust evidence that compassion-based practices can serve as a universal, yet culturally adaptable, pathway to employee well-being. These findings offer practical guidance for organizations to promote sustainable employee well-being through culturally sensitive compassion- and mindfulness-based initiatives that support self-acceptance and relational behaviors