Effects of Mindfulness Yogic Practices on Selected Psychosomatic and Skill Performance Variables among Women Hockey Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Rivkah Jesu, S Jayasingh Albert Chandrasekhar
International journal of human movement and sports sciences July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.13189/saj.2026.140426 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Collegiate female hockey players aged 18 to 25 years with no more than six years of playing experience |
| Intervention | Mindfulness yoga |
| Dose | 60-minute sessions, three days per week for 12 weeks |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Measures | Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Human Benchmark Reaction Time Test, Chapman Ball Control Test |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The mindfulness yoga group showed lower aggression, faster reaction time, and higher trapping performance than the control group, with significant differences favoring the intervention across all variables. |
Abstract
Female hockey players often encounter significant psychological and physical challenges that can adversely affect their performance and overall well-being. Interest in mindfulness-based yogic practices as a means of improving mental health and sports performance has increased in recent years. The present study evaluated the impact of mindfulness yoga practices on the chosen psychosomatic and skill performance abilities among collegiate female hockey players. Thirty female participants aged 18 to 25 years, each with no more than six years of playing experience, were randomly grouped into a Mindfulness Yogic Practice Group (MYPG, n=15) or a Control Group (CG, n=15). The MYPG participated in 60-minute yoga sessions three days per week for 12 weeks, while the CG continued with their regular training program. Psychosomatic variables, including aggression (measured by the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire), reaction time (measured by the Human Benchmark Reaction Time Test), and the skill performance variable of trapping (measured by the Chapman Ball Control Test), were measured by pre- and post-intervention assessments. Data were analyzed by ANCOVA to compare post-test scores of aggression, reaction time, and trapping among groups, while adjusting for baseline differences. ANCOVA was performed with covariates of pre-test scores, and the level of significance was established at 0.05. MYPG displayed lower adjusted post-test aggression, (1,27) = 211.10, p < 0.001, partial eta squared η²p = 0.88; faster reaction time, F (1,27) = 52.18, p < 0.001, partial eta squared η²p = 0.66; and higher trapping performance, (1,27) = 1636.00, p < 0.001, partial eta squared η²p = 0.98. Scheffé post hoc tests confirmed significant mean differences in favor of the intervention group across all variables. These findings suggest that mindfulness yogic practices are a relatively effective addition to traditional training for reducing aggression and improving reaction time and trapping ability in female hockey players, and their incorporation into training regimes can enhance psychological well-being, cognitive processing speed, and performance in their specific sport.
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 |