The effect of mindfulness training on the psychological state of high-level athletes: Meta analysis and system evaluation research.
Journal of sports sciences March 1, 2025 Jianjun Zhang, Jinxiu Sun, Yuchuan Zhou et al. 15 citations
A meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials involving 1,108 elite athletes found that mindfulness training significantly improves mindfulness, psychological resilience, flow state, and reduces sports anxiety, sports depression, and psychological fatigue, but does not significantly affect subjective well-being. The analysis identified that a 7-week intervention with sessions over 60 minutes once per week was most effective for mindfulness. Different mindfulness programs (MAC, MAIC, MBSP, MT, MBSR) showed varying benefits for specific outcomes, such as MAC for resilience and MBSR for depression. The findings suggest that mindfulness training positively impacts elite athletes' psychological state, with optimal methods and durations depending on the targeted outcome.