Short-term mindfulness intervention mitigates mental fatigue effects on basketball technical performance
Shudian Cao, Soh Kim Geok, Zi Wang, Jia Liu
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications July 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1057/s41599-026-08276-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cluster randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 54 |
| Population | Male basketball players aged 18–24 from three universities |
| Intervention | Audio mindfulness intervention |
| Duration | Single session; no follow-up reported |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Basketball Intervention counseling Mental fatigue Mental health Psychological intervention Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Key findings | A 30-minute short-term audio mindfulness intervention attenuated mental fatigue-induced declines in basketball technical performance (points, rebounds, field goal percentage) and attention compared with a mental fatigue group. |
Abstract
Mental fatigue (MF) negatively affects athletes’ performance, particularly in basketball, where decision-making and technical skills are crucial. This study aims to examine whether a 30-min short-term audio mindfulness intervention could mitigate MF-induced decline in basketball technical performance. This study employed the cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) design. A total of 54 male basketball players aged 18–24 were recruited from three universities and randomly assigned into a control group (CG), mental fatigue group (MFG), and mental fatigue-mindfulness group (MF-MG). A 30-min Stroop task was first used to induce MF in the MFG and MF-MG. Subsequently, participants in the MF-MG received a 30-min short-term audio mindfulness intervention. MF was associated with reduced attention and several technical performance indicators (points, rebounds, and field goal percentage) compared with the CG. In contrast, the short-term mindfulness group reported lower perceived MF and showed better performance on these indicators compared with the MFG ( p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in motivation or mood among groups. The findings suggest that a short-term mindfulness intervention may help attenuate the negative effects of MF on basketball technical performance and attention in a controlled experimental setting. However, these results should be considered preliminary, and caution is warranted when generalizing to real competitive environments.
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 |