The Effect of a Mindfulness Training and Yoga Intervention on Unit Cohesion in the Military.

This article examines the impact of a combined mindfulness training and yoga intervention on unit cohesion among U.S. Army soldiers undergoing Basic Combat Training. In a randomized controlled trial involving 1,584 soldiers across 40 platoons, no overall difference in cohesion was found between the intervention and training-as-usual groups; however, soldiers who engaged in embedded mindfulness practice at least three times per week reported sustained or improved perceptions of cohesion over time compared to those with lower practice or usual training. The study controlled for negative mood and accounted for group clustering, suggesting that regular mindfulness practice may help maintain social bonds in high-stress military settings. Limitations include reliance on self-reported measures and the inability to isolate the separate effects of mindfulness training versus yoga. The findings indicate potential benefits of integrating mindfulness and yoga to support cohesion in military units and possibly other high-stakes occupational teams.