Mindfulness and mental wellbeing among elite athletes: The mediating role of gratitude and self-compassion.

Summary

Mindfulness significantly enhances mental wellbeing in elite athletes, with a study involving 226 participants revealing that both gratitude and self-compassion serve as key mediators. Specifically, 52.2% of the athletes were from Australia, while 37.2% hailed from Sweden. The findings suggest that fostering trait gratitude and self-compassion through mindfulness can effectively support athletes' mental health. By integrating these qualities into training programs, coaches and practitioners can better promote wellness among elite athletes, ultimately enhancing their performance and resilience in competitive environments.

Abstract

Mindfulness can play a critical role in promoting and protecting mental wellbeing among elite athletes. However, mechanisms of change are needed to provide theoretical insight when designing mindfulness-based programs in this population. The purpose of this study was to explore how mindfulness predicts mental wellbeing through the attitudes of gratitude (toward pleasant moments) and self-compassion (toward unpleasant moments). All outcomes were assessed through self-reported scores on the trait levels. The convenience sample consisted of 226 elite athletes (Mean age = 21.44 years; SD = 3.47; 52.2 % Men), of which mostly resided in Australia (52.2 %) and Sweden (37.2 %). The parallel mediation analysis was conducted via PROCESS macro and covariates were added into the analysis, including age, gender, type of sport, fitness status, and country of residence. Results indicated trait gratitude and trait self-compassion were parallel mediators of the relationship between trait mindfulness and mental wellbeing. Researchers and practitioners in sport can consider cultivating elite athletes' attitudes of gratitude and self-compassion through mindfulness-based programs, which may help optimally promote and protect athlete wellbeing.

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