Mindfulness and teachers’ diversity awareness: indirect effect of mindful teaching in a sample of in-service teachers

Abstract The question of addressing the diversity of students is one of the most pressing challenges for teachers. Practicing mindfulness can serve as a valuable support mechanism for teachers navigating situations that challenge diversity awareness. In this study, we test the indirect effect of mindfulness in teaching on the relationship between mindfulness and diversity awareness. We operationalise mindfulness in teaching through its interpersonal and intrapersonal dimension and diversity awareness through teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching in diverse settings, their cultural beliefs, and their’ flexibility/openness. We use data from a Slovene sample form the HAND IN HAND: Empowering Teachers Across Europe to Deal with Social, Emotional and Diversity Related Career Challenges (HAND:ET) project ( N = 207; 94.2% females). The path analyses showed: (i) direct paths between mindfulness and all indicators of diversity awareness; (ii) direct paths between mindfulness and the intrapersonal dimension of mindfulness in teaching (but not the interpersonal dimension); (iii) direct paths from dimensions of mindfulness in teaching to indicators of diversity awareness; and (iv) significant indirect paths leading from mindfulness thorough the intrapersonal dimension of mindfulness in teaching to indicators of diversity awareness. Implications for research and practice in regard to teachers’ professional development are discussed.