Mindfulness in Endurance Athletes: Psychological Well-Being and Sport Performance – A Systematic Review
Abstract
Mindfulness has emerged as a relevant practice in Sport Psychology, particularly in endurance sports, where physical and psychological demands are especially high. This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on psychological well-being and sport performance in endurance athletes, considering associated psychological factors such as emotional regulation, anxiety, stress, and the flow state. The review was conducted following the PRISMA (2020) guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO platform (2024). A systematic search was performed across several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Six studies evaluating mindfulness-based interventions in endurance athletes were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale and the ROBINS-I V2 tool. The results suggest that mindfulness may act as a psychological facilitator, promoting the acceptance of internal experiences, improving attentional focus and resilience, as well as reducing anxiety and stress and increasing the experience of flow. Effect sizes across the included studies ranged from small to very large (d = 0.31–1.83). Psychological well-being variables generally showed moderate to large effects, while sport performance outcomes presented more variable results. Methodological limitations and the small number of studies restrict the generalizability of the findings. In conclusion, mindfulness appears to be a promising intervention in endurance sports, although further research with more robust designs is required to consolidate its effectiveness and practical applicability.
The review was conducted following the PRISMA (2020) guidelines and was registered on the PROSPERO platform (2024). A systematic search was carried out in several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Six studies that evaluated mindfulness-based interventions in endurance athletes were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale and the ROBINS-I V2 tool.
The results suggest that mindfulness can act as a psychological facilitator, promoting the acceptance of internal experiences, improved attentional focus and resilience, as well as reductions in anxiety and stress, and a greater experience of flow. Effect sizes in the included studies ranged from small to very large (d = 0.31–1.83). Variables related to psychological well-being generally showed moderate to large effect sizes, while results related to sports performance showed greater variability.
The methodological limitations and the small number of studies restrict the generalizability of the findings. In conclusion, mindfulness presents itself as a promising intervention in endurance sports, although further research with more robust methodological designs is needed to consolidate its effectiveness and practical applicability.
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References
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