Does brief mindfulness training increase empathy? The role of personality

• The use of a short mindfulness induction to augment empathy is investigated
• Consideration is given to moderation effect of the big five personality traits
• Increase of cognitive empathy most apparent with lower conscientiousness and extraversion scores
• No evidence of moderation effect with respect to affective empathy
• Findings consistent with theory, counter to self-report empathy measures

This study sought to investigate if a short mindfulness induction can augment empathic functioning, while taking into account the role of the personality traits. Analysis of 102 participants suggests that a short mindfulness induction is most effective in improving cognitive empathy in individuals with lower trait Conscientiousness and Extraversion scores. No evidence was found for a moderation effect with regard to affective empathy. Results of this study are incongruent with studies utilising self-report measures of empathic functioning, but congruent with both predictions from personality theory as well as studies not assessing empathy through self-report measures. Implications for understanding the relationship between personality and mindfulness, as well as appropriate assessment procedures, are discussed.