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Cited by 244Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsSport Psychology and PerformanceMotivation and Self-Concept in Sports

Mindfulness and acceptance models in sport psychology: a decade of basic and applied scientific advancements

Gardner, Frank L., Moore, Zella E.·2012·Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne
DOI 10.1037/a0030220
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Abstract

It has been over a decade since the mindfulness and acceptance-based practice models that were originally developed within the mainstream clinical psychology domain were first applied in the sport context in order to enhance the athletic performance and overall psychological and general well-being of competitive athletes. Since that time, as mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions gained empirical support for the treatment of a broad range of clinical syndromes and difficulties, numerous important theoretical and empirical developments have also added to the scientific base for these procedures with athletic clientele and have provided some empirical support for the use of these theoretical models and associated intervention procedures. Thus, the present article retraces the past 11 years to provide a comprehensive update on the state-of-the-science with respect to the use of mindfulness and acceptancebased interventions for the purpose of enhanced athletic performance. The article sequentially discusses the theoretical development of these procedures for use with athletic clientele, provides an overview of the empirical research in both basic and applied science with respect to mechanisms of action and intervention efficacy, and suggests future research directions that may aid in the evolution of this approach.Keywords: mindfulness, acceptance, mindfulness-acceptance-commitment, sport psychology, performance enhancementIt has now been more than a decade since mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions were proposed for the purpose of enhanced athletic performance and overall psychological and general well-being of athletic clientele (Moore & Gardner, 2001). Since then, theoretical and empirical developments have added to the knowledge base and have built a scientific foundation for the use of these models and procedures. The current article looks back over the past 1 1 years and provides a comprehensive update on the state-of-the-science with respect to the use of mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions for the purpose of athletic performance enhancement. The article begins with a discussion of the theoretical development of these procedures for use with athletic populations, follows with a discussion of empirical research in both basic and applied science with respect to mechanisms of action and intervention efficacy, and highlights future research directions that may prove fruitful in the evolution of this approach.Development of Mindfulness and Acceptance ModelsOver the last decade, based on contemporary research in clinical psychology and the emotion sciences that has challenged the notion that internal experiences (such as cognitions, emotions, and physiological sensations) need to be controlled or lessened in order to enhance psychological functioning (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999), mindfulness and acceptance-based models have been developed for the enhancement of performance with competitive athletes (Gardner & Moore, 2004; Moore & Gardner, 2001) just as they have with clients presenting with a broad range of clinical syndromes and difficulties (Fairholme, Boisseau, Ellard, Ehrenreich, & Barlow, 2010). The primary focus of mindfulness and acceptance-based models is to promote a modified relationship with internal experiences (i.e., cognitions, emotions, and physiological sensations), rather than seeking to change their form or frequency (Gardner & Moore, 2007). In direct contrast to the traditional control-based psychological skills training model developed by Meichenbaum (1977) more than 35 years ago, which views the attainment of an optimal internal state as necessary for peak athletic performance, the foundation of mindfulness and acceptance-based models suggests an essentially opposite perspective. The mindfulness and acceptance-based models suggest that optimal performance does not require the reduction or volitional control of internal states at all, but rather, requires (a) a nonjudging (i. …

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  • Gardner and Moore (2012) presented ACT- and mindfulness-based interventions in sport aimed at improving athletic performance and athletes' psychological and general well-being.

    “No que se refere ao efeito da ACT no desempenho esportivo, Gardner e Moore (2012) apresentaram intervenções embasadas em ACT e Mindfulness no esporte com a finalidade de melhora do desempenho atlético e no bem-estar psicológico e geral dos atletas.”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy as a proposal of treatment for expatriates in soccer (2019) · cites this paper as Gardner & Moore, 2012

  • Ideal athletic performance does not necessarily require the reduction or control of internal states; instead, focus on the present moment without judgment, acceptance of what is being experienced, intentional attention to task-relevant external stimuli, and commitment to behaviors and choices directed toward one's values are important.

    “O desempenho ideal dos atletas não necessariamente exige a redução ou o controle de estados internos em tudo, mas é importante o foco no momento presente, sem julgamento; a aceitação do que se está experienciando; focar, intencionalmente, a atenção a estímulos externos relevantes para a tarefa; e um compromisso com comportamentos e escolhas direcionados aos seus próprios valores (Gardner & Moore,”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy as a proposal of treatment for expatriates in soccer (2019) · cites this paper as Gardner & Moore, 2012

  • There are studies showing the applicability of ACT in various sports practices.

    “Ainda que seja recente a utilização da ACT no campo esportivo, há estudos que apresentam resultados da aplicabilidade dessa modalidade terapêutica nas diversas práticas esportivas (Castilla & Ramos, 2012;Gardner & Moore, 2012;Moore, 2003;Vestly, 2014).”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy as a proposal of treatment for expatriates in soccer (2019) · cites this paper as Gardner & Moore, 2012

  • The MAC is now considered 'possibly efficacious' as a performance enhancement program for athletes and may soon reach the well-established level once another successful RCT is published.

    “In fact, the MAC is now considered “possibly efficacious” as a performance enhancement program for athletes and may soon reach the well-established level once another successful RCT is published (Gardner and Moore, 2012).”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of music performance anxiety: A pilot study with student vocalists (2017) · cites this paper as Gardner and Moore, 2012

  • MABI promote a modified relationship with internal experiences rather than seeking to change their form or frequency.

    “In contrast to traditional psychological skills training (PST), MABI promote 'a modified relationship with internal experiences (i.e., cognitions, emotions, and physiological sensations), rather than seeking to change their form or frequency' (Gardner & Moore, 2012, p. 309).”

    From Integrated mindfulness-based intervention: Effects on mindfulness skills, cognitive interference and performance satisfaction of young elite badminton players. (2020) · cites this paper as Gardner & Moore, 2012

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Authors
Gardner, F. L., & Moore, Z. E.
Affiliations
  • Kean University (US)
  • Manhattan University (US)
ORCID
Gardner, Frank L.
Venue
Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2012-11
Volume
53
Issue
4
Pages
309-318
ISSN
  • 0708-5591 (ISSN-L)
  • 1878-7304
DOI
10.1037/a0030220
OpenAlex
W2073171673
Cited by
241
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
11.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
Keywords
mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, acceptance-based interventions, sport psychology, athletic performance improvement, competitive athletes, psychological well-being, mechanism of action, intervention efficacy, emotion regulation, mindfulness-based interventions, future research directions

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