Mindfulness, cognitive load, and performance: examining the interplay of stress and self-regulation in physical education.
BMC psychology May 19, 2025 Songhu Kong, Lingling Qiu, Yangyang Su et al. 5 citations
Mindfulness practices reduce cognitive load stress and directly improve physical performance among university students in physical education. Cognitive load stress also serves as a mechanism through which mindfulness enhances performance, indicating an indirect effect. Self-regulation strengthens both the direct and indirect pathways, shaping these relationships. The findings contribute to goal-setting theory and stress and coping theory by clarifying how mental strategies link to physical outcomes. Practical implications suggest integrating mindfulness and self-regulation into physical education programs to foster better performance and well-being.