The roles of readiness and dosage in predicting outcomes of a mindful sport performance enhancement intervention with US college student-athletes

Research suggests that Mindfulness-and Acceptance-Based Interventions (MABIs) can impact sport performance and performance-relevant factors, though questions remain regarding when and for whom MABIs are effective. Specifically, inquiries into intervention engagement (i.e., dosage), potentially impacted by participant readiness, are needed. The present study utilized a non-randomized control group design with U.S. collegiate athletes to investigate MABI effects. Four teams from two universities in the Appalachian region (N = 57) engaged in Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) interventions during their offseason or pre-season training period. Participants were assessed on flow, psychological distress, mindfulness, emotion regulation difficulties, life satisfaction, readiness to practice mindfulness, attitudes toward sport psychology, and sport performance and enjoyment. Mindfulness dosage was measured weekly via self-report. Compared to controls, initial MSPE par-ticipants reported reductions in depressive symptoms and emotion regulation difficulties, and improvements in self-rated sport performance; at 6-week follow-up, initial MSPE participants reported significant increases in mindfulness and sport enjoyment, in addition to sustained reductions in emotion regulation difficulties. Pre -intervention readiness was not associated with changes across the intervention, though higher post-intervention readiness was associated with improvements in mindfulness, life satisfaction, and sport enjoy -ment. Higher post-intervention readiness was also associated with significantly more engagement (i.e., dosage), though no evidence indicated that dosage moderated the relationship between readiness and outcomes. These data suggest that post-intervention readiness may impact long-term engagement in mindfulness practice, and that pre-intervention readiness may not be an accurate indicator of engagement in or outcomes of an MABI with athletes.

Automated summary

Research suggests that Mindfulness-and Acceptance-Based Interventions (MABIs) can impact sport performance and performance-relevant factors, but questions remain regarding their effectiveness. This study investigated the effects of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) interventions on collegiate athletes and found improvements in depressive symptoms, emotion regulation difficulties, self-rated sport performance, mindfulness, and sport enjoyment. The study also highlighted the importance of post-intervention readiness in long-term engagement in mindfulness practice and outcomes.