The effects of mindfulness training on mindfulness, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and performance satisfaction among female student-athletes: The moderating role of age
Megan Hut, C. R. Glass, K. Degnan, Thomas O. Minkler
September 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajsep.2021.06.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Female college student-athletes (ages 18-22) from lacrosse, field hockey, and track & field teams at a private U.S. university |
| Intervention | Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) |
| Duration | 6-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Older student-athletes improved more than younger ones on sport mindfulness, and age predicted reductions in sport anxiety and improvements in mindful acceptance. |
Abstract
Abstract Research has suggested that mindfulness can help combat stress, increase self-compassion, and improve well-being. Although mindfulness is also beneficial for student-athletes, little is known about how developmental differences due to age may influence intervention efficacy. The present study investigated whether 6-week Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) training had a differential effect on younger (first and second year) compared to older (third and fourth year) college student-athletes’ mindfulness, sport anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and satisfaction with both attention/emotion regulation and physical sport performance. Participants were 39 younger and 21 older female athletes from three teams (lacrosse, field hockey, track & field) at a private university in the United States, ranging in age from 18-22. Multiple 2 × 2 mixed-design ANOVAs revealed significant reductions in sport anxiety as well as significant improvements on self-ratings of satisfaction with both attention/emotion regulation and physical sport performance. Older student-athletes improved more than their younger teammates on sport mindfulness, and independent samples t-tests indicated that older student-athletes reported more frequent mindfulness practice during workouts, team practice, and competitions. Linear regressions found that age predicted reductions in sport anxiety and improvements in dispositional mindful acceptance. Finally, student-athletes perceived MSPE to be moderately to highly successful in promoting change in a variety of performance-related areas such as anxiety reduction, focus, and the ability to let things go. The implications of these results are presented, as well as suggestions for future research on mindfulness mental training with college athletes.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- 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
- 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
- Effects of mindfulness intervention on competition state anxiety in sprinters—a randomized controlled trial Frontiers in Psychology October 31, 2024
- A systematic review of the mindful sport performance enhancement program International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology July 12, 2025
and 13 more in the library
Cites 6
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- Effects of Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) on Sport-Specific Dispositional Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, and Self-Rated Athletic Performance in a Multiple-Sport Population: an RCT Study Mindfulness February 13, 2019
- Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan Psychology Research and Behavior Management December 1, 2018
- Collegiate Athletes' Expectations and Experiences with Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement. Journal of clinical sport psychology September 2017
and 1 more in the library