Mindfulness-based interventions for competitive anxiety in athletes: the moderating role of control type-Preliminary evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kaiming Chen, Yiran Xing
Frontiers in Psychology May 28, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1832397 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 667 |
| Population | Athletes |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation Anxiety |
| Keywords | Meta-analysis Athletes Competitive anxiety Control type |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions showed a moderate overall effect on competitive anxiety in athletes (g = -0.53), with cognitive anxiety reduced more than somatic anxiety. Effects were moderate versus waitlist controls (g = -0.66) but near zero versus active controls (g = -0.05), and the authors argue this pattern is compatible with anxiety reduction reflecting largely nonspecific intervention factors rather than mindfulness-specific mechanisms, though they caution the active-control estimate is preliminary. |
Abstract
This meta-analysis examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) on competitive anxiety in athletes. Eighteen controlled trials (N = 667) from seven databases were included. Random-effects modeling revealed a moderate overall effect favoring MBI [g = -0.53, 95% CI (-0.74, -0.32), I 2 = 63%], with greater reductions in cognitive anxiety (g = -0.58) than somatic anxiety (g = -0.41). Control type was the only statistically significant moderator (p = 0.005): MBI showed moderate effects vs. waitlist controls (g = -0.66) but near-zero effects vs. active controls (g = -0.05). Total intervention hours did not significantly predict effect size (β = -0.025, p = 0.062). Trim-and-fill adjustment yielded g = -0.44. Because the active-control stratum contained only three comparisons, the near-zero estimate against active comparators should be treated as preliminary. The observed pattern is nevertheless compatible with the interpretation that the anxiety reduction attributable to MBI reflects, to a substantial extent, nonspecific intervention factors rather than mindfulness-specific mechanisms.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 21
- 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
- The effect of meditation on shooting performance. British journal of sports medicine December 1, 1996
- Influence of Mindfulness on Levels of Impulsiveness, Moods and Pre-Competition Anxiety in Athletes of Different Sports. Healthcare March 21, 2023
- Exploring mindfulness interventions across cultures: a comparative meta-analysis of mindfulness interventions for athletes in Western and Eastern contexts Frontiers in Psychology October 31, 2024
- Effects of "Mindfulness Acceptance Insight Commitment" Training on Flow State and Mental Health of College Swimmers: A Randomized Controlled Experimental Study. Frontiers in Psychology 2022
and 16 more in the library