Exploring mechanisms of change in elite athlete mental wellbeing through the mindfulness for wellbeing program: a qualitative study

W G Wang; Matthew J. Schweickle; Judy A. Pickard; Stewart A. Vella

doi:10.1080/10413200.2026.2671100

Exploring mechanisms of change in elite athlete mental wellbeing through the mindfulness for wellbeing program: a qualitative study

W G Wang, Matthew J. Schweickle, Judy A. Pickard, Stewart A. Vella

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology May 23, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2026.2671100 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size	13
Population	Elite athletes
Intervention	Mindfulness for Wellbeing program
Duration	8-week intervention
Topics	Meditation
Keywords	Qualitative research Mental health Elite athletes Sport psychology Psychotherapist Developmental psychology Clinical psychology Well-being
Key findings	Four mechanisms—wellbeing intentions, moment-to-moment awareness, bodily and sensory attention, and self-compassion—explain how an 8-week mindfulness program enhances elite athlete wellbeing.

Abstract

Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are a promising approach to enhancing elite athlete wellbeing, yet little is known about the mechanisms through which they exert their effects. Guided by a critical realist approach, we qualitatively explored mechanisms of change during an 8-week MBP (the Mindfulness for Wellbeing program) delivered to 13 elite athletes (8 females, 5 males; M age = 22.23). Data were drawn from participants’ stated intentions, practice notes, and semistructured interviews, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. We generated four themes: (1) Wellbeing intentions guide wellbeing outcomes; (2) Developing moment-to-moment awareness to improve positive affect and autonomy; (3) Attending to bodily and sensory experience to support emotional regulation and disengagement from thoughts; and (4) Cultivating self-compassion to enhance growth in sport and personal life. These findings provide contextual insight into further refinement of MBPs to better promote and protect mental wellbeing in elite athletes or other athlete populations.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study	Year	Design	Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan...	2017	Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system	2004	Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety	2006	Exploratory mixed methods study	n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context	2001	Qualitative study	n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators	2013	Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

Citations in the library

Cited by 1

An Eight-Week Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention Fosters Emotion Regulation and Resilience in Youth Athletes Research Square October 21, 2026

Cites 9

and 4 more in the library