Relación entre personalidad grit, mindfulness y ansiedad, y diferencias por sexo en atletas de la selección Sonora
Alex Andrés Zárate López, Luis Alberto Durazo Terán, Jorge Zamarripa, Manuel De la Cruz Ortega
Retos May 1, 2026 DOI: 10.47197/retos.v78.118165 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 184 |
| Population | Athletes aged 9 to 22 years from the Sonora national team |
| Measures | Sports Grit Scale, Mindfulness Scale, anxiety test |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Athletes showed high 'self-improvement' grit (mean 4.54) and low 'giving up' (mean 1.44), with no gender difference in grit, but women reported higher anxiety and lower mindfulness. Anxiety was negatively correlated with mindfulness (r = -0.60) and grit (r = -0.20). The authors argue grit and mindfulness may protect against anxiety and recommend gender-specific interventions and longitudinal studies. |
Abstract
Introduction: Athletes often train in demanding and competitive environments. Considering psychological variables such as grit and mindfulness can be crucial for maintaining optimal performance and managing anxiety.
Objective: To examine the relationships between sports grit, mindfulness, and anxiety, as well as to compare their levels between male and female athletes. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 184 athletes aged 9 to 22 years. Three validated instruments were applied: the Sports Grit Scale, the Mindfulness Scale, and an anxiety test. Data was analyzed using SPSS v25.0 and JASP 0.19.1, employing non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U) and confirmatory factor analysis.
Results: Athletes showed high levels in the grit dimension "self-improvement" (M=4.54) and low levels in "giving up" (M=1.44). No significant differences in grit were found by gender (p=0.88), but women exhibited higher anxiety (p<0.01) and lower mindfulness (p<.01). Negative correlations were found between anxiety and mindfulness (r=-.60, p<.01), and between anxiety and grit (r=-.20, p<.05).
Discussion: The results align with previous studies highlighting the protective role of grit and mindfulness against anxiety, though they contrast with findings reporting gender differences in grit. The absence of a correlation between mindfulness and grit suggests unexplored mediators, such as self-compassion.
Conclusions: Athletes from the Sonora national team exhibit high levels of grit and mindfulness, associated with lower anxiety. Gender-specific interventions and future longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships are recommended.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |