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Department Sport Management (Sport Marketing), , Islamic Azad University South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran , Meysam_khoeini@yahoo.com
Abstract: (434 Views)
Background: Mindfulness, as a third-wave psychological approach, emphasizes present-moment awareness and acceptance of mental experiences, playing a significant role in improving psychological functioning and quality of life. In professional sports, particularly among national athletes, this approach can reduce competitive anxiety and enhance mental preparedness. Despite existing evidence, a systematic review of recent studies is essential to comprehensively examine the effects of mindfulness on athletes’ performance and mental health.
Aims: The present study aimed to systematically review the impact of mindfulness on the quality of life and psychological performance of national athletes.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted to investigate the effects of mindfulness on the quality of life and psychological performance of national athletes. The statistical population included all scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 in databases such as SID, Magiran, Springer, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The studies were searched using relevant keywords such as “mindfulness,” “psychological performance,” “quality of life,” “psychological well-being,” “national athletes,” “elite athletes,” “acceptance and commitment therapy,” “mindfulness-acceptance-commitment protocol,” “mindfulness-based stress reduction,” and “mindfulness-based performance enhancement.” Sampling was conducted purposefully based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and ultimately, 15 eligible articles were included in the study. The extracted data were categorized, summarized, and descriptively analyzed using Excel software.
Results: The results indicated that mindfulness-based interventions led to significant improvements in athletic performance, enhancement of psychological indicators (flow state, mental toughness, self-efficacy, resilience), reduction in competitive anxiety, depression, stress, and mental fatigue. These effects were more sustainable in high-level athletes and programs lasting more than seven weeks. Additionally, positive changes in neurological indicators (increased theta, alpha, SMR, and beta waves, improved focus, and emotional regulation) were reported, although physiological and biochemical effects were less consistent. The quality of evidence was moderate to low, with diversity in protocols, lack of standardization, and reliance on self-reporting tools as the main challenges.
Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review demonstrated that mindfulness-based interventions, particularly structured and long-term programs, significantly improve athletic performance, enhance psychological indicators, and reduce competitive anxiety in national and elite athletes. By strengthening focus, self-regulation, and psychological resilience, this approach contributes to improving athletes’ quality of life. However, methodological limitations, variability in protocols, and the reliance on subjective measurement tools highlight the need for future studies with more rigorous designs and the use of objective indicators.
Aims: The present study aimed to systematically review the impact of mindfulness on the quality of life and psychological performance of national athletes.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted to investigate the effects of mindfulness on the quality of life and psychological performance of national athletes. The statistical population included all scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 in databases such as SID, Magiran, Springer, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The studies were searched using relevant keywords such as “mindfulness,” “psychological performance,” “quality of life,” “psychological well-being,” “national athletes,” “elite athletes,” “acceptance and commitment therapy,” “mindfulness-acceptance-commitment protocol,” “mindfulness-based stress reduction,” and “mindfulness-based performance enhancement.” Sampling was conducted purposefully based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and ultimately, 15 eligible articles were included in the study. The extracted data were categorized, summarized, and descriptively analyzed using Excel software.
Results: The results indicated that mindfulness-based interventions led to significant improvements in athletic performance, enhancement of psychological indicators (flow state, mental toughness, self-efficacy, resilience), reduction in competitive anxiety, depression, stress, and mental fatigue. These effects were more sustainable in high-level athletes and programs lasting more than seven weeks. Additionally, positive changes in neurological indicators (increased theta, alpha, SMR, and beta waves, improved focus, and emotional regulation) were reported, although physiological and biochemical effects were less consistent. The quality of evidence was moderate to low, with diversity in protocols, lack of standardization, and reliance on self-reporting tools as the main challenges.
Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review demonstrated that mindfulness-based interventions, particularly structured and long-term programs, significantly improve athletic performance, enhance psychological indicators, and reduce competitive anxiety in national and elite athletes. By strengthening focus, self-regulation, and psychological resilience, this approach contributes to improving athletes’ quality of life. However, methodological limitations, variability in protocols, and the reliance on subjective measurement tools highlight the need for future studies with more rigorous designs and the use of objective indicators.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/25 | Accepted: 2025/09/30 | Published: 2026/03/21
Received: 2025/07/25 | Accepted: 2025/09/30 | Published: 2026/03/21
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)