Influence of Mindfulness on Levels of Impulsiveness, Moods and Pre-Competition Anxiety in Athletes of Different Sports.
Laura C Sánchez-sánchez, Clemente Franco, Alberto Amutio, Jaqueline García-silva, Juan González-hernández
Healthcare March 21, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060898 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 41 |
| Population | Athletes (mean age 22.83 ± 5.62 years) |
| Intervention | Flow Meditation |
| Duration | 10-week intervention, pre- and post-test |
| Topics | Meditation Anxiety |
| Keywords | Awareness Psychosocial variables Sport |
| Citations | 35 |
| Key findings | A 10-week mindfulness intervention reduced impulsivity, improved mood, and lowered pre-competition anxiety in athletes compared to a control group. |
Abstract
Training in emotional regulation skills is one of the most important resources for the adaptation of athletes to contexts of sports pressure, especially during competitions. This study explored the effects of a mindfulness programme (Flow Meditation) on levels of impulsivity, mood and pre-competition anxiety-state in a sample of athletes (N = 41, 22.83 ± 5.62 years). Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (N = 21; 14 males and 7 females) which received the intervention over 10 weeks (a weekly session) and a control group (wait-list; N = 20; 13 males and 7 females). The variables under study were assessed through different questionnaires at pre- and post-test (T1-T2) in both groups. The mindfulness intervention was effective in reducing impulsivity (cognitive (t = -4.48, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.40), both motor (t = -4.03, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.20) and unplanned (t = -5.32, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.66)), mood (tension (t = -4.40, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.37), depression (t = -4.56, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.42), anger (t = -7.80, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.47), somatic anxiety (t = -5.28, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.65), and cognitive anxiety (t = -6.62, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.07) in the intervention group compared to the control group and with large to very large effect sizes. Mindfulness is a factor that enhances athletes' ability to cope with high sport pressure and the healthy management of competition (e.g., fear of failure), or with their daily life.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- The effect of mindfulness training on the psychological state of high-level athletes: Meta analysis and system evaluation research. Journal of Sports Sciences March 1, 2025
- Mindfulness and impulsive behavior: exploring the mediating roles of self-reflection and coping effectiveness among high-level athletes in Central China Frontiers in Psychology January 11, 2024
- Mindfulness, social evaluation anxiety, and self-regulation: exploring their association on impulsive behavior among athletes. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024
- Effectiveness of four components of mindfulness based on acceptance and commitment (MAC) on cognitive and physical anxiety of female athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic Turkish Journal of Kinesiology August 27, 2023
- 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
and 7 more in the library
Cites 11
- 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
- Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Athletes Psychology December 30, 2016
- The wu-wei alternative: Effortless action and non-striving in the context of mindfulness practice and performance in sport Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology September 1, 2021
- The effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on cognitive skills in young soccer players Exercise and Quality of Life January 3, 2025
- The impact of Mindfulness and Mental Skills Protocols on Athletes’ Competitive Anxiety Biomedical Human Kinetics 2022
and 6 more in the library