Mindfulness and Voice Behaviour: A Diary Study of Ego Depletion and Work-Related Self-Efficacy Among Nurses

Aim: This study examined how mindfulness affects voice behaviour by altering nurses' daily resource levels.

Background: Mindfulness is an essential personal resource; it can enhance the accumulation of resources and empower individuals to engage in adaptive resource regulation. This study suggests that on days when nurses' mindfulness is higher than average, they may accumulate more resources that facilitate their voice behaviour.

Design: We employed an intensive longitudinal design in the form of a daily diary. Participants were asked to complete both one-time and daily surveys.

Methods: We collected data between March and September 2024, and 119 nurses were tracked over seven workdays. We tested the hypothesised relationships using a multilevel analysis.

Results: Mindfulness was positively related to nurses' voice behaviour; this relationship was mediated by work-related self-efficacy (WRSE). Moreover, ego depletion and WRSE played a chain-mediating role between mindfulness and nurses' voice behaviour.

Conclusion: Mindfulness enhances nurses' voice behaviour as well as an individual's resource level and enables him/her to obtain more resources through voice behaviour.

Impact: Given the positive impact of mindfulness, we advocate for expanding mindfulness training for nurses to boost their resource levels and consequently encourage voice behaviour. In addition, given the mediating role of ego depletion and WRSE, we emphasise the importance of identifying and mitigating factors that contribute to nurses' ego depletion. Furthermore, we call for training on professional skills to be provided to enhance nurses' confidence in their abilities.

Patient or public contribution: There are no patient or public contributions. This study did not involve patients or the public in the design and implementation process because it focused on investigating the work behaviour of nurses, where the involvement of patients and the public may not have been essential.