The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation
Abstract Background Although numerous psychological determinants of sports success have been identified in the scientific literature, research on the contribution of mindfulness and interoceptive awareness to sports achievements remains limited. This study investigates the relationship between self-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00863-z |
| _version_ | 1797247156309983232 |
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| author | Aleksandra M. Rogowska Rafał Tataruch |
| author_facet | Aleksandra M. Rogowska Rafał Tataruch |
| author_sort | Aleksandra M. Rogowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although numerous psychological determinants of sports success have been identified in the scientific literature, research on the contribution of mindfulness and interoceptive awareness to sports achievements remains limited. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported mental skills determining sports success (i.e., flow state, attention, technique, sensitivity to error, commitment, and achievement), state mindfulness for physical activity (of the mind and the body), and interoceptive awareness (including scales of noticing, not distracting, not worrying, attention regulation, emotional awareness, self-regulation, body listening, and trusting). Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on a sample of elite athletes in speed skating (n = 54) and university students of physical education (n = 102) representing various sports disciplines and competitive levels. The Sports Success Scale (SSS), the State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity (SMS-PA), and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2) were used to assess psychological determinants of athletic achievements, state mindfulness, and interoceptive sensitivity, respectively. Results Our findings indicate some small-to-moderate differences in particular dimensions of psychological traits related to sports success, mindfulness, and interoceptive awareness between athletes of different genders, groups, and competitive levels. A chain mediation model showed that the relationship between body mindfulness and psychological variables determining sports success is fully explained by two dimensions of interoception: self-regulation and attention regulation. Conclusions Cultivating the mindfulness state of the body can improve self-regulation and attention regulation, which in turn may increase the mental skills required for successful sports participation. Therefore, mental training should focus primarily on body mindfulness, attention regulation, and self-regulation to improve the mental skills responsible for athletes’ sports achievements. In addition, individual differences in athletes’ gender, sports discipline, and level of sports competition should be considered during mental training. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:54:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c231297646eb4bbdac13a01f34f203c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:54:13Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-c231297646eb4bbdac13a01f34f203c62024-03-24T12:28:58ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472024-03-0116111310.1186/s13102-024-00863-zThe relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulationAleksandra M. Rogowska0Rafał Tataruch1Institute of Psychology, Department of Social Sciences, University of OpoleFaculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of TechnologyAbstract Background Although numerous psychological determinants of sports success have been identified in the scientific literature, research on the contribution of mindfulness and interoceptive awareness to sports achievements remains limited. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported mental skills determining sports success (i.e., flow state, attention, technique, sensitivity to error, commitment, and achievement), state mindfulness for physical activity (of the mind and the body), and interoceptive awareness (including scales of noticing, not distracting, not worrying, attention regulation, emotional awareness, self-regulation, body listening, and trusting). Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on a sample of elite athletes in speed skating (n = 54) and university students of physical education (n = 102) representing various sports disciplines and competitive levels. The Sports Success Scale (SSS), the State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity (SMS-PA), and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2) were used to assess psychological determinants of athletic achievements, state mindfulness, and interoceptive sensitivity, respectively. Results Our findings indicate some small-to-moderate differences in particular dimensions of psychological traits related to sports success, mindfulness, and interoceptive awareness between athletes of different genders, groups, and competitive levels. A chain mediation model showed that the relationship between body mindfulness and psychological variables determining sports success is fully explained by two dimensions of interoception: self-regulation and attention regulation. Conclusions Cultivating the mindfulness state of the body can improve self-regulation and attention regulation, which in turn may increase the mental skills required for successful sports participation. Therefore, mental training should focus primarily on body mindfulness, attention regulation, and self-regulation to improve the mental skills responsible for athletes’ sports achievements. In addition, individual differences in athletes’ gender, sports discipline, and level of sports competition should be considered during mental training.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00863-zElite athletesInteroceptive awarenessSpeed skatingSports successState mindfulness for physical activity |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra M. Rogowska Rafał Tataruch The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Elite athletes Interoceptive awareness Speed skating Sports success State mindfulness for physical activity |
| title | The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation |
| title_full | The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation |
| title_short | The relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self-regulation |
| title_sort | relationship between mindfulness and athletes mental skills may be explained by emotion regulation and self regulation |
| topic | Elite athletes Interoceptive awareness Speed skating Sports success State mindfulness for physical activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00863-z |
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