Effects of Mindfulness Practice on Performance-Relevant Parameters and Performance Outcomes in Sports: A Meta-Analytical Review
Open accessAbstract
Background Mindfulness as a present-oriented form of mental training affects cognitive processes and is increasingly considered meaningful for sport psychological training approaches. However, few intervention studies have examined the effects of mindfulness practice on physiological and psychological performance surrogates or on performance outcomes in sports. Objective The aim of the present meta-analytical review was to examine the effects of mindfulness practice or mindfulness-based interventions on physiological and psychological performance surrogates and on performance outcomes in sports in athletes over 15 years of age. Data sources A structured literature search was conducted in six electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus). The following search terms were used with Boolean conjunction: (mindful* OR meditat* OR yoga) AND (sport* OR train* OR exercis* OR intervent* OR perform* OR capacity OR skill*) AND (health* OR adult* OR athlete*). Study selection Randomized and non-randomized controlled studies that compared mindfulness practice techniques as an intervention with an inactive control or a control that followed another psychological training program in healthy sportive participants were screened for eligibility. Data extraction Eligibility and study quality [Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro)] scales were independently assessed by two researchers. A third independent researcher was consulted to achieve final…
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Research evidence suggests that MABI's underlying mechanisms may be very relevant in order to help athletes to manage their internal experiences more effectively and maintain optimal functioning in highly demanding performance environments.
“Research evidence suggests that these MABI's underlying mechanisms may be very relevant in order to help athletes to manage their internal experiences more effectively and maintain optimal functioning in highly demanding performance environments (for reviews, see Bühlmayer et al., 2017; Gardner & Moore, 2012, 2017; Lindsay & Creswell, 2017; Noetel et al., 2017; Sappington &am”
From Integrated mindfulness-based intervention: Effects on mindfulness skills, cognitive interference and performance satisfaction of young elite badminton players. (2020) · cites this paper as Bühlmayer et al., 2017
These two types of interventions received promising empirical support for their beneficial effects on the development of performance-relevant psychological skills in sport domains.
“These two types of interventions received promising empirical support for their beneficial effects on the development of performance-relevant psychological skills in sport domains (for reviews, see Bühlmayer et al., 2017; Josefsson et al., 2017; Josefsson, Ivarsson, et al., 2019; Noetel et al., 2017; Sappington & Longshore, 2015).”
From Integrated mindfulness-based intervention: Effects on mindfulness skills, cognitive interference and performance satisfaction of young elite badminton players. (2020) · cites this paper as Bühlmayer et al., 2017
Additional evidence has shown that MBIs may enhance personal well-being, perceptual sensitivity, processing speed, empathy, concentration, reaction time, motor skills, immune function, and performance outcomes.
“Additional evidence has also shown that MBIs may enhance personal well-being, perceptual sensitivity, processing speed, empathy, concentration, reaction time, motor skills, immune function, and performance outcomes. 40-45”
From Randomized Controlled Trials of Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Interventions Over the Past Two Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis. (2021) · cites this paper as [40]
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Background
- Authors
- Bühlmayer, L., Birrer, D., Röthlin, P., Faude, O., & Donath, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Basel (CH)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM (CH)
- German Sport University Cologne (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Donath, Lars
- Venue
- Sports Medicine
- Published
- 2017-06-29
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 2309-2321
- ISSN
- 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
- 1179-2035
- OpenAlex
- W2729604332
- Cited by
- 327
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- edoc.unibas.ch
- Licence
- Locations
- Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- edoc (University of Basel) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- ARBOR - Bern University of Applied Sciences Repository (submittedVersion)
- edoc (University of Basel)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Sports and Physical Education Research
- Keywords
- mindfulness practice, mindfulness-based interventions, athletic performance, athletes, sport psychology, mental training, yoga, meditation, performance outcomes, heterogeneous effects, standardized mean difference, effect size, intervention duration and frequency
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Aged, Anxiety, Child, Fear, Humans, Sports, Athletic Performance, Mindfulness
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