A meta-analysis of the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ performance
Xing-Wei Si, Zhen-Kun Yang, Xia Feng
Frontiers in Psychology May 31, 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1375608 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 582 |
| Population | Athletes, drawn from 11 included articles (Chinese and English databases) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training was associated with large improvements in athletes' mindfulness (SMD 1.08), 'fluency' (SMD 1.47), and sports performance (SMD 0.92), and a large reduction in psychological anxiety (SMD -0.87). The authors conclude it can serve as an effective psychological skills intervention for improving athletic performance. |
Abstract
Objective: To explore the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ performance using meta-analysis method.
Methods: A total of 11 articles and 23 effect sizes were included through retrieval of Chinese and English databases, with a total sample size of 582.
Result: Mindfulness training improves the level of mindfulness [SMD =1.08, 95%CI (0.30, 1.86), p < 0.01], fluency (The optimal competitive psychological state of the athlete, the athlete’s attention is all focused on the task, and other things no longer attract their attention) [SMD =1.47, 95%CI (0.87, 2.08), p < 0.001] and performance [SMD =0.92, 95% CI (0.40, 1.43), p < 0.01], reduced psychological anxiety [SMD = -0.87, 95% CI (−1.54, −0.20), p < 0.05], and all reached the level of large effect size.
Conclusion: The effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ sports performance is effective, and it can be used as an effective psychological skill intervention method to improve athletes’ sports performance. In the future, we should further expand the sample size, strengthen the comparative study of different sports and intervention modes, and pay attention to the difference between the time effect and trait mindfulness level in fluency state.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- 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
- Enhancing academic resilience through mindfulness training: an experimental study with Chinese undergraduates and the mediating role of psychological flexibility Frontiers in Psychology November 5, 2025
- A three-week mindfulness intervention on mental skills, internal-load regulation, and performance in youth swimmers: a randomized controlled trial Scientific Reports April 14, 2026
- Relationships among athletes’ challenge and threat perceptions, mindfulness, and anxiety Frontiers in Psychology March 17, 2026
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being in Athletes: A Scoping Review of Randomised Controlled Trials Healthcare September 8, 2026
and 16 more in the library
Cites 21
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
and 16 more in the library