The Effects of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Mindfulness on Solicitors’ Well-being

Article


Soon, L., Walsh, J. J., McDowall, A. and Teoh, K. R. H. 2022. The Effects of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Mindfulness on Solicitors’ Well-being. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 29 (2), pp. 143-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695958.2021.2020657
AuthorsSoon, L., Walsh, J. J., McDowall, A. and Teoh, K. R. H.
Abstract

Rising reports of poor mental health and well-being in lawyers across multiple jurisdictions, notably the United States of America, Australia, and the United Kingdom (UK), have led to a growing international focus on this topic. Yet there remains a paucity of empirical data on the well-being of solicitors practising in England and Wales. Framed by self-determination theory (SDT), we undertook a cross-sectional survey of 340 trainee and qualified solicitors in England and Wales to (1) benchmark the psychological well-being of solicitors against other UK occupational groups and adult population norms; and (2) test relationships between mindfulness, satisfaction of basic psychological needs (perceived autonomy, relatedness, and competence at work) and psychological well-being. The SDT components positively and significantly related to well-being. Mindfulness partially mediated the pathway between basic psychological needs satisfaction and well-being, suggesting that satisfaction of these needs may in themselves facilitate higher mindfulness, thereby contributing to greater levels of well-being. We conceive that autonomy, relatedness, and competence at work provide the psychological space necessary for mindfulness to be cultivated, within which well-being can thrive. These findings support the importance of a systemic approach to solicitors’ well-being to safeguard basic psychological needs in the workplace.

JournalInternational Journal of the Legal Profession
Journal citation29 (2), pp. 143-158
ISSN0969-5958
Year2022
PublisherTaylor & Francis (Routledge)
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09695958.2021.2020657
Publication dates
Online26 Dec 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted16 Dec 2021
Deposited14 Mar 2022
Copyright holder© 2021 Taylor & Francis
Additional information

This is an Accepted Manuscript version of the following article, accepted for publication in International Journal of the Legal Profession. Lucinda Soon, James J. Walsh, Almuth McDowall & Kevin R.H. Teoh (2022) The effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction and mindfulness on solicitors’ well-being, International Journal of the Legal Profession, 29 (2), pp. 143-158, DOI: 10.1080/09695958.2021.2020657. It is deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/8q63x

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 156
    total views
  • 142
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Understanding the experiences of ketogenic metabolic therapy for people living with varying levels of depressive symptoms: a thematic analysis
Bellamy, E. L., Hadjiefthyvoulou, F., Walsh, J., Brown, J. and Turner, J. 2024. Understanding the experiences of ketogenic metabolic therapy for people living with varying levels of depressive symptoms: a thematic analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. 11 (Art. 1397546). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1397546
The moderating effect of trait mindfulness on implicit racial bias following a brief mindfulness induction: A pilot study
Scheps, M. H. and Walsh, J. 2020. The moderating effect of trait mindfulness on implicit racial bias following a brief mindfulness induction: A pilot study. Transpersonal Psychology Review. 22 (1), pp. 12-22.
GP experience and understandings of providing follow‐up care in prostate cancer survivors in England
Margariti, C., Gannon, K. N., Walsh, J. J. and Green, J. S. A. 2020. GP experience and understandings of providing follow‐up care in prostate cancer survivors in England. Health and Social Care in the Community. 28 (5), pp. 1468-1478. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12969
Experiences of UK African-Caribbean Prostate Cancer Survivors of Discharge to primary care
Margariti, Charikleia, Gannon, K., Thompson, Rose, Walsh, J. and Green, James 2019. Experiences of UK African-Caribbean Prostate Cancer Survivors of Discharge to primary care. Ethnicity and Health. 26 (8), pp. 1115-1129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2019.1606162
CFT & people with intellectual disabilities
Hardiman, Mark, Willmoth, Corrina and Walsh, J. 2018. CFT & people with intellectual disabilities. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities. 12 (1), pp. 44-56. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-07-2017-0030
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals—a Pilot Study
Ruths, Florian A., de Zoysa, Nicole, Frearson, Sonya J., Hutton, Jane, Williams, J. Mark G. and Walsh, J. 2012. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals—a Pilot Study. Mindfulness. 4 (4), pp. 289-295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0127-0
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals: A Long-Term Qualitative Follow-up Study
de Zoysa, Nicole, Ruths, Florian A., Walsh, J. and Hutton, Jane 2012. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals: A Long-Term Qualitative Follow-up Study. Mindfulness. 5 (1), pp. 10-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0141-2
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals: a Long-Term Quantitative Follow-up Study
de Zoysa, Nicole, Ruths, Florian A., Walsh, J. and Hutton, Jane 2012. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Mental Health Professionals: a Long-Term Quantitative Follow-up Study. Mindfulness. 5 (3), pp. 268-275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0176-4
An exploration of an integrated counselling and coaching approach with distressed young people
Flynn, Alan T., Sharp, Nicola L., Walsh, J. and Popovic, Nash 2017. An exploration of an integrated counselling and coaching approach with distressed young people. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 31 (3), pp. 375 -396. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2017.1319800
Interpretive bias, repressive coping and trait anxiety
Walsh, J., McNally, Maria A., Skariah, Ancy, Butt, Ayesha A. and Eysenck, Michael W. 2015. Interpretive bias, repressive coping and trait anxiety. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping: An International Journal. 28 (6), pp. 617-633.
Causal links between external contingencies of self-worth and mindfulness
Balint, Marc G., Walsh, J. and MacLeod, Andrew K. 2014. Causal links between external contingencies of self-worth and mindfulness. Transpersonal Psychology Review. 16 (1), pp. 30-38.
Exploring attitude and belief correlates of adhering to the new guidelines for low-risk single-occasion drinking: an application of the theory of planned behaviour
Murgraff, Vered, Mcdermott, M. and Walsh, J. 2001. Exploring attitude and belief correlates of adhering to the new guidelines for low-risk single-occasion drinking: an application of the theory of planned behaviour. Alcohol & Alcoholism. 36 (2), pp. 135-140.