Mindfulness and mental wellbeing among elite athletes: The mediating role of gratitude and self-compassion.
Wei Wang, Matthew J. Schweickle, Karin Hägglund, Stewart A. Vella
Psychology of Sport And Exercise July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102851 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional mediation analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 226 |
| Population | Elite athletes (mean age 21.44 years; 52.2% men; mostly from Australia and Sweden) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Compassion Elite sport Gratefulness Mental health Trait mindfulness Wellness |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Trait gratitude and trait self-compassion each partially mediate the positive relationship between trait mindfulness and mental wellbeing in elite athletes. |
Abstract
Mindfulness can play a critical role in promoting and protecting mental wellbeing among elite athletes. However, mechanisms of change are needed to provide theoretical insight when designing mindfulness-based programs in this population. The purpose of this study was to explore how mindfulness predicts mental wellbeing through the attitudes of gratitude (toward pleasant moments) and self-compassion (toward unpleasant moments). All outcomes were assessed through self-reported scores on the trait levels. The convenience sample consisted of 226 elite athletes (Mean age = 21.44 years; SD = 3.47; 52.2 % Men), of which mostly resided in Australia (52.2 %) and Sweden (37.2 %). The parallel mediation analysis was conducted via PROCESS macro and covariates were added into the analysis, including age, gender, type of sport, fitness status, and country of residence. Results indicated trait gratitude and trait self-compassion were parallel mediators of the relationship between trait mindfulness and mental wellbeing. Researchers and practitioners in sport can consider cultivating elite athletes' attitudes of gratitude and self-compassion through mindfulness-based programs, which may help optimally promote and protect athlete wellbeing.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being in Athletes: A Scoping Review of Randomised Controlled Trials Healthcare September 8, 2026
- Exploring mechanisms of change in elite athlete mental wellbeing through the mindfulness for wellbeing program: a qualitative study Journal of Applied Sport Psychology May 23, 2026
- Mindfulness and athlete burnout among olympic combat sport athletes: the mediating role of athlete self-compassion and the moderating role of emotion regulation. Frontiers in Psychology September 3, 2026
Cites 10
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators The Journal of Positive Psychology April 11, 2012
- Effects of mindfulness training on resilience, self-confidence and emotion regulation of elite football players: The mediating role of locus of control Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology August 13, 2022
and 5 more in the library