Enhancing psychological performance and basketball skills: a comparative study of elite athletes and college recreational players after an 8-week mindfulness intervention.
Qi-Fan Wu, Jia-Qi Du
Frontiers in Psychology April 22, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1794656 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 67 |
| Population | Elite basketball athletes and collegiate recreational basketball players |
| Intervention | Mindfulness Acceptance Insight Commitment (MAIC) intervention |
| Duration | 8-week intervention; assessments conducted pre- and post-intervention |
| Measures | State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Schultz Attention Test (SAT), Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Speed and Accurate Shooting Test, Obstacle Dribbling Test, Defensive Sliding Test, Lay-up Test, No-Ball Maneuver Running |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Comparative study Mental training Mindfulness intervention Basketball skills Psychological performance |
| Key findings | The 8-week MAIC mindfulness intervention improved psychological and technical performance differently by skill level: elite athletes improved significantly in anxiety, resilience, and obstacle dribbling, while recreational players showed broader improvements including shooting, lay-ups, anxiety, attention, and resilience. Controlling for baseline measures, recreational players benefited more than elite athletes in shooting, dribbling, anxiety, and depression, indicating skill level moderates the intervention's effects. |
Abstract
Background: In high-intensity sports such as basketball, psychological factors significantly influence performance. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show potential for reducing anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue while enhancing attention, resilience, and basketball technical skills. However, few studies have compared the effects of MBI between elite athletes and recreational players.
Purpose: This research examined the effects of an 8-week Mindfulness Acceptance Insight Commitment (MAIC) intervention on psychological performance and technical skills among elite basketball athletes and collegiate recreational players, while investigating skill level as a moderator.
Methods: Sixty seven participants (24 elite athletes, 43 recreational players) were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. The MAIC program consisted of two 60-min sessions per week. Psychological measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Schultz Attention Test (SAT), and Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Basketball skill assessments comprised the Speed and Accurate Shooting Test, Obstacle Dribbling Test, Defensive Sliding Test, Lay-up Test, and No-Ball Maneuver Running. Assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention.
Results: Sixty three participants completed the study. Elite athletes showed significant improvements in STAI, CD-RISC, and Obstacle dribbling test performance post-MAIC, with a trend toward benefit in the SAT. Recreational players demonstrated broader benefits, including improvements in Speed and Accurate Shooting Test, Lay-up Test, STAI, SAT, and CD-RISC. ANOVA revealed that, controlling for baseline measures, recreational basketball players demonstrated greater benefits than elite athletes in shooting, dribbling, anxiety, and depression, indicating a skill-level moderating effect.
Conclusion: MAIC enhances psychological and technical performance differentially: elite athletes primarily benefit in targeted psychological domains, while recreational players experience more comprehensive psychological and skill-related effects. These findings support personalized mindfulness interventions in basketball, enriching sports psychology theory and practice.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Effect of yoga and mindfulness on psychological correlates in young athletes: A meta-analysis. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 2023
- The effect of mindfulness training on the psychological state of high-level athletes: Meta analysis and system evaluation research. Journal of Sports Sciences March 1, 2025
- Impact of mindfulness-based interventions on sports performance and mental health: An umbrella review. Journal of exercise science and fitness October 1, 2025
- Effects of brief online mindful sport performance enhancement on athletes' mental health, emotion regulation, and performance: a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial. International journal of sports medicine June 16, 2025
- Intervention research on cultivating psychological resilience in adolescent athletes: an empirical analysis based on mindfulness training. Frontiers in Psychology December 4, 2025
and 5 more in the library