Effect of daily mindfulness fluctuations on sleep and recovery-stress states in elite level judoka: an observational study.
Tim Birnkraut, Michael Kellmann, Sarah Jakowski
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1583058 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 33 |
| Population | Elite-level judoka competing at national and international level |
| Duration | 2-week continuous monitoring |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Athletes Monitoring Recovery Sleep Stress |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Higher mindfulness, particularly acting with awareness, was positively associated with subjective sleep quality, shorter sleep latencies, and better recovery-stress states, but not with objective sleep duration or efficiency. |
Abstract
Sleep is a fundamental factor in an athlete's ability to sustain peak performance and endurance. Mindfulness, defined as a state of intentional, non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, has been linked to positive effects on sleep. The present study aims to investigate which recovery and sleep parameters are influenced by interindividual differences in mindfulness tendencies and intraindividual daily fluctuations in mindfulness. A two-week continuous monitoring study was conducted with 33 elite-level judoka (17 female, 16 male; age: M = 23.79, SD = 3.05) competing at the national and international level. Data collection included objective sleep monitoring via actigraphy and subjective monitoring through morning and evening self-report questionnaires. Sleep was analyzed as a function of both trait and daily mindfulness, as well as behavioral factors such as the number of training sessions, session intensity, and the implementation of recovery activities and naps. Multilevel analyses revealed significant positive associations between mindfulness and qualitative subjective sleep parameters, as well as morning and evening recovery-stress states. Among the mindfulness facets, acting with awareness emerged as the strongest predictor. In terms of quantitative sleep parameters, mindfulness influenced both subjective and objective sleep latencies. The findings suggest that mindfulness may play a key role in sleep regulation among athletes, particularly in enhancing perceived restfulness, improving recovery-stress states in the evening and morning, and facilitating the process of falling asleep. These results highlight mindfulness as a promising target for interventions aimed at improving subjective recovery and reducing sleep onset latencies through daily mindful behaviors. Furthermore, the study underscores the relative independence of qualitative and quantitative sleep parameters, suggesting they are influenced by distinct factors.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Autonomic and psychophysiological effects of a 13-week mindfulness-based intervention in university students Frontiers in Psychology February 4, 2026
- Effects of Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment (MAIC) Training on Stress and Sleep Quality in Elite Swimmers: A Randomized Controlled Mixed-Methods Trial. Behavioral Sciences June 29, 2026
Cites 17
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Mechanisms of Change of the Internet-Based Intervention StudiCare Mindfulness for College Students: a Randomized Controlled Trial Mindfulness August 10, 2022
- Effect of Brief Mindfulness Induction on University Athletes’ Sleep Quality Following Night Training Frontiers in Psychology April 12, 2018
and 12 more in the library