The effect of mindfulness training on the psychological state of high-level athletes: Meta analysis and system evaluation research.
Jianjun Zhang, Jinxiu Sun, Yuchuan Zhou, Lihong Gong, Sen Huang
Journal of Sports Sciences March 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2025.2468997 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,108 |
| Population | Elite athletes |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 7-week intervention, sessions over 60 minutes once per week |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness training Elite athletes Mental state Meta-analysis |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training significantly improves mindfulness, psychological resilience, flow state, and alleviates sports anxiety, sports depression, and psychological fatigue among elite athletes, but does not significantly affect subjective well-being. |
Abstract
To investigate the impact of mindfulness training on mindfulness, psychological resilience, flow state, subjective well-being, sports anxiety, sports depression, and psychological fatigue among elite athletes through a meta-analysis. Databases like PubMed, Web of Science, and others were searched for randomized controlled trials up to October 31, 2024. Included studies compared mindfulness training interventions to non-mindfulness training in elite athletes. The outcome indicators were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4 software. Among 6917 articles, 32 studies with 1108 athletes (560 experimental, 548 control) were included. Mindfulness training significantly improved mindfulness (p0.05). MAC, MAIC, MBSP, and MT were effective for mindfulness. The best intervention duration was 7 weeks, with sessions lasting over 60 minutes once a week. MAC was best for psychological resilience. MBSP, MT, and MAC improved flow state. MBSP and MT alleviated anxiety, while MBSR was effective for depression. MAIC training mitigated psychological fatigue. Mindfulness training positively impacts elite athletes' psychological state, enhancing mindfulness, resilience, flow, and alleviating anxiety, depression, and psychological fatigue, but not subjective well-being. Optimal methods and durations vary by outcome.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Intervention research on cultivating psychological resilience in adolescent athletes: an empirical analysis based on mindfulness training. Frontiers in Psychology December 4, 2025
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being in Athletes: A Scoping Review of Randomised Controlled Trials Healthcare September 8, 2026
- Mindfulness-based interventions for competitive anxiety in athletes: the moderating role of control type-Preliminary evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology May 28, 2026
- Efectos del Modelo de Atención Plena Compasiva sobre la ansiedad precompetitiva, la conciencia plena y la compasión en Taekwondistas de alto rendimiento: un ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado European Journal of Child Development, Education and Psychopathology May 5, 2026
- Enhancing psychological performance and basketball skills: a comparative study of elite athletes and college recreational players after an 8-week mindfulness intervention. Frontiers in Psychology April 22, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 14
- The Effect of Mindfulness Training on Athletes’ Flow: An Initial Investigation The Sport Psychologist June 1, 2011
- Examining the Effects of Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment Training on Self-Compassion and Grit among Elite Female Athletes International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 23, 2021
- Influence of Mindfulness on Levels of Impulsiveness, Moods and Pre-Competition Anxiety in Athletes of Different Sports. Healthcare March 21, 2023
- A rowing-specific mindfulness intervention: Effects on mindfulness, flow, reinvestment, and performance Frontiers in Psychology September 7, 2022
- A meta-analysis of the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ performance Frontiers in Psychology May 31, 2024
and 9 more in the library