Intervention research on cultivating psychological resilience in adolescent athletes: an empirical analysis based on mindfulness training.
Shanshan Wang, Jingwu Liu
Frontiers in Psychology December 4, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1589786 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Adolescent athletes aged 14-18 years from a provincial sports school in China |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 8-week intervention (90 minutes weekly) with 3-month follow-up |
| Measures | Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Sports psychology Adolescent athletes Psychological resilience Mindfulness training Mental health intervention |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training was associated with large improvements in psychological resilience among adolescent athletes, with total Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale scores rising from 62.47 pre-intervention to 75.83 post-intervention and 77.90 at 3-month follow-up, while the control group showed no significant changes. Improvements spanned all resilience dimensions, and neither gender nor training experience significantly moderated the effects. |
Abstract
Introduction: Psychological resilience is crucial for adolescent athletes facing competitive pressures, yet effective interventions remain understudied. This study examined the associations between mindfulness training and psychological resilience development in adolescent athletes.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 adolescent athletes (aged 14-18 years) from a provincial sports school in China. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 30) receiving an 8-week mindfulness training program (90 minutes weekly) or a control group (n = 30) maintaining regular training routines. Psychological resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Potential moderating effects of gender and training experience were analyzed.
Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in total resilience scores from pre-intervention (M = 62.47, SD = 10.21) to post-intervention (M = 75.83, SD = 9.56, p < 0.001, d = 1.35) and follow-up (M = 77.90, SD = 9.14, p < 0.001, d = 1.58), while the control group showed no significant changes. Improvements were observed across all resilience dimensions: personal competence, trust in instincts, positive acceptance of change, and control (all p < 0.001). Neither gender nor training experience significantly moderated intervention effects.
Discussion: These findings provide empirical support for associations between mindfulness training and enhanced psychological resilience in adolescent athletes, with sustained effects at 3-month follow-up. The intervention's effectiveness across gender and experience levels suggests broad applicability for mental health promotion in youth sports programs. Future research should examine causal mechanisms and long-term sustainability with larger, more diverse samples.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Psychological consequences of AI-assisted training and the buffering role of mindfulness. Acta Psychologica August 10, 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
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- 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
- Examining the effects of the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) programme on sport-specific dispositional mindfulness, sport anxiety, and experiential acceptance in Martial Arts Scandinavian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology April 10, 2024
- Mindfulness for Young Athletes. Sports Health November 7, 2023
- Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Promoting Athletic Performance and Related Factors among Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health January 22, 2023
and 1 more in the library