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Effects of mindfulness training on anxiety, stress resilience, and self-confidence in wushu taolu athletes

Xu Shuai, Sapto Wibowo, Heryanto Nur Muhammad

Jurnal SPORTIF Jurnal Penelitian Pembelajaran May 5, 2026 DOI: 10.29407/js_unpgri.v12i1.27192 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group pretest–posttest Peer reviewed
Sample size 33
Population Wushu taolu athletes from the East Java Wushu Team
Intervention Mindfulness training
Duration Four-week program, three sessions per week, 30–40 minutes per session
Topics Anxiety Meditation
Key findings The mindfulness group showed lower cognitive anxiety (mean change 4.76) and somatic anxiety (mean change 4.35), and higher stress resilience (mean change 4.82) and self-confidence (mean change 5.12) than the control group, with the authors reporting large effect sizes. The authors conclude that mindfulness training can enhance athletes' psychological readiness for competition.

Abstract

Wushu taolu requires not only physical skill and technical precision but also strong mental stability to perform under pressure. However, many athletes struggle with high levels of anxiety, competitive stress, and diminished self-esteem, factors that significantly undermine their performance. These persistent psychological challenges make it essential to implement mindfulness as a targeted mental intervention, enabling athletes to regulate their emotions, sustain focus, and maintain composure throughout competition. This study examined the effects of mindfulness training on anxiety, stress resilience, and self-confidence among wushu taolu athletes. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group pretest–posttest was used. Participants were 33 athletes from the East Java Wushu Team: 17 participated in a four-week mindfulness program (three sessions per week, 30–40 minutes), while 16 continued their normal training. Standardized scales measured psychological changes before and after treatment. Results showed the mindfulness group had lower cognitive (ΔM = 4.76; p < 0.001) and somatic anxiety (ΔM = 4.35; p < 0.001), and higher resilience (ΔM = 4.82; p < 0.001) and confidence (ΔM = 5.12; p < 0.001). The large effect sizes confirm the intervention's strong impact. In conclusion, mindfulness effectively enhances athletes' psychological readiness for competition. It can be integrated into regular training programs as a practical strategy to strengthen emotional control, focus, and overall psychological performance.

Comparable studies

Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... 2013 Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group n = 37
Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. 2010 Experimental study
Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience 2013 Within-subjects experimental study n = 15
Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults 2009 Quasi-experimental and longitudinal n = 69
Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers 2019 Within-subjects experimental study n = 11

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Anxiety Meditation