Mindfulness and self-rated performance among novice athletes in China: a sequential mediating role of flow and cognitive anxiety.
Jian Peng, Longjun Jing, Peng Wang, Huilin Wang
Frontiers in Psychology 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1436321 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 315 |
| Population | Novice athletes in Changsha, China |
| Intervention | mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions (MABI) |
| Topics | Meditation Anxiety |
| Keywords | Cognitive anxiety Flow Novice athletes Self-rated performance |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness, flow, and self-rated performance were negatively correlated with cognitive anxiety, and flow and cognitive anxiety served as a chain mediation between mindfulness and self-rated performance in novice athletes. |
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between mindfulness, flow, cognitive anxiety, and self-rated performance in competitive sports, moving away from traditional cognitive-behavioral principles to investigate mindfulness-based interventions, specifically mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions (MABI). The research is centered on understanding how mindfulness relates to the self-rated performance, flow experiences, and cognitive anxiety in novice athletes. Convenience sampling and snowball sampling were employed to collect cross-sectional data from 315 participants in Changsha, China, during August and September 2023. Utilizing a structural equation model, the study examined the association between mindfulness and the self-rated performance of novice athletes. Mindfulness, flow, and self-rated performance were all negatively correlated with cognitive anxiety, and cognitive anxiety mediated the relationship between flow and self-rated performance. Additionally, flow and cognitive anxiety served as a chain mediation between mindfulness and self-rated performance. The findings suggest that for novice athletes, flow and cognitive anxiety may be crucial mechanisms through which mindfulness improves self-rated performance. When coaches face novice athletes experiencing suboptimal competitive states, they can utilize effective mindfulness practices to enhance the athletes' perception of their performance. This can help novices transition to elite roles and integrate more quickly into the professional sports arena.