Mindfulness Training with a Fencing Athlete Who Was Troubled by an Uncharacteristic Inability to Perform Well Competitively: A Case Report.
Yonago Acta Med April 26, 2023 DOI: 10.33160/yam.2023.05.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A fencing athlete |
| Interventions | Positive thinking Mindfulness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors report that a fencing athlete who found positive thinking ineffective for coping with pre-competition negative ruminations switched to mindfulness and subsequently was able to compete without obsessing or experiencing negative ruminations. They argue that detailed assessment of how psychological skills training affects cognition, behavior, and performance is important for choosing appropriate interventions. |
Abstract
Positive thinking is one of the psychological skills that mental training programs aim to help athletes cultivate in order to enhance performance. It has been noted, however, that some athletes do not find positive thinking effective for that purpose. This case report describes a fencing athlete who used positive thinking to cope with negative ruminations prior to a competition and then stopped using positive thinking and engaged in mindfulness. As a result of applying mindfulness, the patient developed the ability to take part in competitions without obsessing and without negative ruminations. These findings show the importance of assessing, in detail, how the psychological skills training used with athletes is affecting their cognition, behavior, and performance and of implementing appropriate interventions based on these assessments.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology April 1, 2010