Mindfulness training research in military cohorts

Current Projects

Over the past 15 years, we have been systematically investigating the utility of mindfulness training (MT) to optimize attention, well-being, and performance in military cohorts. Our findings suggest that MT is a feasible, scalable, and portable resilience building tool that offers cognitive advantage, which may be a key competitive advantage in the modern-day battlefield.

Publications

Gutierrez, I. A., Bliese, P. D., Nassif, T. H., Smith, C. D., Jha, A. P., Adler, A. B. (2025). The Effect of a Mindfulness Training and Yoga Intervention on Unit Cohesion in the Military. Health Education & Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981251358709

Jha, A. P., Izaguirre, M. K., & Adler, A. B. (2025). Mindfulness training in military settings: Emerging evidence and best-practice guidance – Current Psychiatry Reports. SpringerLink. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-025-01608-6

Dziego, C., Zanesco., A.P., Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, I., Schlesewsky, M., Stanley, E.A., and Jha, A.P., (2024). Mindfulness-training in high-demand cohorts alters resting-state EEG: an investigation of individual alpha frequency, aperiodic 1/f activity, and microstates. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science 4(6): 100383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100383

Price, M. M., Zanesco, A., Denkova, E., & Jha, A. P. (2024). Examining factors associated with self-reported cognitive functioning in elite military settings: considerations of combat experiences and post-traumatic stress symptomology. Sci Rep 14, 19161. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65826-3

Nassif, T.H., Adrian, Gutierrez, I.A., A.C., Dixon, A., Rogers, S.L., Jha, A.P., Adler, A.B., (2023). Optimizing Performance and Mental Skills with Mindfulness-Based Attention Training: A Pilot Randomized Trial with Operational Units. Military Medicine. 188 (3/4), 761-770. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab380

Nassif, T.H., Gutierrez, I.A., Smith, C.D., Jha, A.P., Adler, A.B. (2023). Bolstering Soldier Mental Health in Basic Combat Training with Mindfulness and Yoga: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Depression and Anxiety.https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6869543

Smith, C., Gutierrez, I. A., Nassif, T. H., Jordan, K. L., Taylor, K. M., Jha, A. P., & Adler, A. B. (2023). Impact of Mindfulness Training and Yoga on Injury and Pain-Related Impairment: A Group Randomized Trial in Basic Combat Training. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1214039. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.121403

Alessio, J., Hosie., M.P., Jha, A.P., (2023). Chapter 6: Mindfulness Training for Optimization and Wellness. In COLs M. Hosie, M. L. Sipos, and T. W. Britt, Health and Wellbeing for Military Executives. US Army War College, Carlisle, PA.

Jha, A. P., Zanesco, A. P., Denkova, E., MacNaulty, W., & Rogers., S. L. (2021). The effects of mindfulness training on working memory performance in high-demand cohorts: a multi-study investigation. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. 6, 192–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-02100228-1

Denkova, E., Barry, J., Slavin, L., Zanesco, A. P., Rogers, S.L., & Jha, A.P. (2021). Investigating the impact of peer-trainer delivered mindfulness training on cognitive abilities and psychological health. Mindfulness, 12, 2645–2661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671 –021 –01713 –6

Jha, A. P., Zanesco, A. P., Denkova, E., Morrison, A. B., Ramos, N., Chichester, K., Gaddy, J., & Rogers, S. (2020). Bolstering cognitive resilience via train-the-trainer delivery of mindfulness training in applied high-demand settings. Mindfulness, 11, 683–697. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01284-7

Jha, A. P., Zanesco, A. P., Denkova, E., Rooks, J., Morrison, A. B., & Stanley, E. (2020). Comparing mindfulness and positivity trainings in high demand cohorts. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 44, 311326.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608 –020 –10076 –6

Zanesco, A. P., Denkova, E., Rogers, S. L., MacNulty, W. K., & Jha, A. P. (2019). Mindfulness training as cognitive training in high-demand cohorts: An initial study in elite military servicemembers. Progress in Brain Research, 244, 323-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.001

Jha, A. P., Rogers, S. L., Schoomaker, E., & Cardon, E. (2019). Deploying mindfulness to gain cognitive advantage: Considerations for military effectiveness and well-being.NATO Science and Technology Conference Proceedings, 1-14. NATO Conference Proceedings

Jha, A. P., Morrison, A. B., Parker, S. C., & Stanley, E. A. (2016). Practice is protective: Mindfulness training promotes cognitive resilience in high-stress cohorts. Mindfulness, 8, 46-58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0465-9

Jha, A. P., Witkin, J. E., Morrison, A. B., Rostrup, N., & Stanley, E. (2017). Short-form mindfulness training protects against working memory degradation over high-demand intervals. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 1, 154-171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465 –017 –0035 –2

Jha, A. P., Morrison, A. B., Dainer-Best, J., Parker, S., Rostrup, N., & Stanley, E. (2015). Minds “at attention”: Mindfulness training curbs attentional lapses in military cohorts. PLoS ONE, 10(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0116889

Stanley, E. A, Kiyonaga, A., Schaldach, J. M., & Jha, A. P. (2011). Mindfulness-based mind fitness training: A case study of a high-stress predeployment military cohort. Cognitive Behavior and Practice,18(4), 566-576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2010.08.002

Jha, A. P., Stanley, E. A., & Baime, M. J. (2010). What does mindfulness training strengthen? Working memory capacity as a functional marker of training success. In R. A. Baer (Ed.), Assessing mindfulness and acceptance processes in clients: Illuminating the theory and practice of change (pp. 207-221). New Harbinger Publications.

Jha, A. P., Stanley, E. A., Kiyonaga, A., Wong, L., & Gelfand, L. (2010). Examining the protective effects of mindfulness training on working memory capacity and affective experience. Emotion, 10(1), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018438

Stanley, E. A., & Jha, A. P. (2009). Mind fitness: Improving operational effectiveness and building warrior resilience. Joint Force Quarterly (An Advisory Journal to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff), 55, 144151.

Presentations

Nassif, T.H., Gutierrez, I.A., Smith, C.D., Jha, A.P, Adler, A. (2023). Bolstering Soldier Mental Health in Basic Combat Training with Mindfulness and Yoga: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Poster at the Military Health System Research Symposium.

Smith, C., Gutierrez, I.A., Nassif, T.H., Jordan, K.L., Taylor, K.M., Jha, A.P., and Adler, A.B. (2023). Warfighter Operational Resilience: Current and Future Directions in the Development and Implementation of Programs to Maintain “Resilience Under Fire. Presentation at the Military Health System Research Symposium.

Price, M.M., Zanesco, A.P., Denkova, E., & Jha, A.P. Examining the Relationships between PTSD, Protracted Stress, and Cognitive Errors in Daily Life: A Mediation Analysis (2023). Poster to be presented at the Mind and Life Summer Research Institute.

Jha, A. P., Rogers, S. L., Schoomaker, E., & Cardon, E. (2019). Deploying mindfulness to gain cognitive advantage: Considerations for military effectiveness and well-being. NATO Science and Technology Conference Proceedings, 1-14. NATO Conference Proceedings.

Additional Resources