The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being in Athletes: A Scoping Review of Randomised Controlled Trials
Nafih Cherappurath, Halil İbrahim Ceylan, E. Anakha, T. S. Saranya, Deniz Öztürk, Muhammed Ali Thoompenthodi, Masilamani Elayaraja, Rinsa Raj, Raul Ioan Muntean, P. C Firdousiya
Healthcare September 8, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare14182899 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Athletes participating in randomized controlled trials of mindfulness-based interventions |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Across 17 randomized controlled trials, mindfulness-based interventions were generally associated with beneficial effects on athletes' mindfulness, mental toughness, emotional intelligence, well-being, flow, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, attention, life satisfaction, and grit, with several trials reporting reduced anxiety and stress, though anxiety findings were inconsistent. Results were mixed for self-esteem, acceptance, and depression. The authors conclude that MBIs may offer benefits across multiple psychological dimensions but that effects were not uniform, warranting further well-designed trials. |
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained increasing attention in sport psychology due to their potential to enhance psychological well-being and performance-related outcomes among athletes. Despite various systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining mindfulness in athletic contexts, broader scoping evidence mapping randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of MBIs targeting psychological well-being among athletes remains limited. This scoping review aims to map and synthesise empirical evidence from RCTs examining MBIs and psychological outcomes among athletes, identify methodological and conceptual gaps, and guide future systematic reviews and meta-analytic investigations.
Methods: The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, initially in March 2026 and updated in April 2026. Data were extracted on study characteristics, participant demographics, intervention features, comparator conditions, outcome measures, and key findings.
Results: A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The included studies generally reported beneficial effects of MBIs across psychological well-being, emotion regulation, cognitive functioning, and sport-related psychological outcomes among athletes. Beneficial effects were reported for several outcomes, including mindfulness, mental toughness, emotional intelligence, mental well-being, flow state, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, emotional regulation, attention, life satisfaction, and grit. Reductions in psychological distress, particularly anxiety and stress, were also reported in several studies, although findings for anxiety were not consistent across trials. Findings were mixed for some other outcomes, including self-esteem, acceptance, and depression. Improvements were additionally reported in social relationships, pleasure regulation, and overall psychological functioning.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that MBIs may offer beneficial effects across multiple dimensions of psychological functioning among athletes, although effects were not uniform across outcomes or interventions. These findings indicate the potential utility of structured MBI programmes within athlete support settings, particularly when delivered by or in collaboration with sport psychologists and mental performance consultants, while highlighting the need for further well-designed RCTs to clarify intervention-specific effects and longer-term outcomes.