Effects of Mindfulness Intervention on Cognitive Function in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Yue Yang, Xiru Du, Xinyu Liu, Peilun Li, Shan He, Lu Leng, Jun-Hao Huang
Mindfulness August 6, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-025-02634-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 635 |
| Population | Athletes |
| Intervention | Mindfulness interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness interventions improved athletes' cognitive function, with medium effects on mindfulness level and attention, large effects on inhibitory control, and medium effects on neuroelectric indices. The authors report that effects may be moderated by athletes' performance level and that practicing at least three times per week was more effective. |
Abstract
As the application of mindfulness interventions (MIs) continues to grow, its utility extends beyond mental health treatment, showing cognitive benefits for athletes, including increased focus, reduced distractions, and enhanced task efficiency. The integration of MI into cognitive neuroscience has practical implications for addressing various cognitive and behavioral challenges. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the impact of MIs on cognitive function in athletes, investigating whether it yielded measurable effects in this specific population. A comprehensive search across five prominent online databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) focused only on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), assessing the influence of MI on cognitive function (mindfulness level, attention, inhibitory control, and neuroelectric indices) in athletes. Twelve RCTs, comprising a total sample size of 635 cases, were included in the analysis. Participants were divided into two groups: an MI group and a control group. Following the exclusion of three studies due to heterogeneity sensitivity, the results indicated that MIs had medium effects on mindfulness level (SMD = 0.77, 95% CI [0.42, 1.13], z = 4.25, I2 = 39%, p < 0.001), medium effects on attention (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI [0.29, 0.80], z = 4.16, I2 = 0%, p < 0.001), large effects on inhibitory control (SMD = 1.50, 95% CI [0.40, 2.61], z = 2.67, I2 = 2%, p = 0.008), and medium effects on neuroelectric indices (SMD = − 0.53, 95% CI [− 0.89, − 0.17], z = 2.89, I2 = 0%, p = 0.004). Subgroup analyses revealed that MIs improved inhibitory control in non-elite athletes with large effects (SMD = 1.65, 95% CI [− 0.03, 3.32], z = 1.93, I2 = 20%, p = 0.05) and had medium effects on mindfulness level in elite athletes (SMD = 0.71, 95% CI [0.32, 1.10], z = 3.55, I2 = 0%, p < 0.001). MIs at a frequency greater than or equal to three times per week were more effective in improving mindfulness level (SMD = 0.67, 95% CI [0.29, 1.06], z = 3.46, I2 = 0%, p < 0.001) and attention (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI [0.24, 0.86], z = 3.45, I2 = 0%, p < 0.001) in elite and non-elite athletes compared to the control group. The active control group also showed better improvements in mindfulness level (SMD = 0.79, 95% CI [0.27, 1.31], z = 2.98, I2 = 54%, p = 0.003) and attention (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI [0.24, 0.86], z = 3.45, I2 = 0%, p < 0.001) compared to the passive control group. MI has a positive impact on the cognitive function of athletes, but these effects may be moderated by the athletes’ sports performance levels. For athletes, it is recommended to incorporate MIs into their routine, ideally three times a week. Furthermore, the influence of an MI on cognitive performance could be modulated by the design of the control group. Utilizing an active control group design can enhance the robustness and credibility of the findings. Therefore, further comprehensive and larger-scale studies are warranted to deepen our understanding of the impact of MIs on cognitive function in athletes. This study has been registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (number: CRD42023454126).
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 2
- Mindfulness-based interventions for competitive anxiety in athletes: the moderating role of control type-Preliminary evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology May 28, 2026
- Enhancing psychological performance and basketball skills: a comparative study of elite athletes and college recreational players after an 8-week mindfulness intervention. Frontiers in Psychology April 22, 2026
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