Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan
Jian-Hong Chen,1,2,* Po-Hsin Tsai,1,2,* Yin-Chou Lin,2,3 Chih-Ken Chen,1,2 Ching-Yen Chen1,2 1Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China; 2School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China; 3Department of Rehabili...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/mindfulness-training-enhances-flow-state-and-mental-health-among-baseb-peer-reviewed-article-PRBM |
| _version_ | 1811198351971975168 |
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| author | Chen JH Tsai PH Lin YC Chen CK Chen CY |
| author_facet | Chen JH Tsai PH Lin YC Chen CK Chen CY |
| author_sort | Chen JH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Jian-Hong Chen,1,2,* Po-Hsin Tsai,1,2,* Yin-Chou Lin,2,3 Chih-Ken Chen,1,2 Ching-Yen Chen1,2 1Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China; 2School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China; 3Department of Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: To examine the effect of mindfulness-based training on performance and mental health among a group of elite athletes. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mindful sport performance enhancement (MSPE) on mental health, flow state, and competitive state anxiety using a 4-week workshop. We recruited an amateur baseball team (N=21) in Taiwan, and collected information by self-reported questionnaires administered before, immediately after, and at a 4-week follow-up. The primary outcome was to evaluate sports performance by flow state and competitive state anxiety, which included self-confidence, somatic anxiety, and cognitive anxiety. The secondary outcome was to explore whether MSPE intervention can improve anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and eating disorders.Result: After the workshop and follow-up 1 month later, we found improvements in flow state (P=0.001; P=0.045), cognitive anxiety in competitive anxiety (P=0.056; P=0.008), global eating disorder (P=0.009; P<0.001), marked shape concern (P=0.005; P<0.001), and weight concern (P=0.007; P<0.001). Scores of sleep disturbance (P=0.047) showed significant improvement at follow-up. We also found significant association between flow state and mindfulness ability (P<0.001).Conclusion: This is the first mindfulness intervention to enhance athletes’ performance in Taiwan, and also the first application of MSPE for team sports. Our study results suggested that mindfulness ability is associated with flow state, and that MSPE is a promising training program for strengthening flow state and mental health. Keywords: elite athletes, eating disorders, sport performance, competitive anxiety, sport psychology |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:28:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d7cc4670608242b0a0ffbd64a503dc99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1578 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:28:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-d7cc4670608242b0a0ffbd64a503dc992022-12-22T03:53:32ZengDove Medical PressPsychology Research and Behavior Management1179-15782018-12-01Volume 12152143242Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in TaiwanChen JHTsai PHLin YCChen CKChen CYJian-Hong Chen,1,2,* Po-Hsin Tsai,1,2,* Yin-Chou Lin,2,3 Chih-Ken Chen,1,2 Ching-Yen Chen1,2 1Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China; 2School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China; 3Department of Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: To examine the effect of mindfulness-based training on performance and mental health among a group of elite athletes. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mindful sport performance enhancement (MSPE) on mental health, flow state, and competitive state anxiety using a 4-week workshop. We recruited an amateur baseball team (N=21) in Taiwan, and collected information by self-reported questionnaires administered before, immediately after, and at a 4-week follow-up. The primary outcome was to evaluate sports performance by flow state and competitive state anxiety, which included self-confidence, somatic anxiety, and cognitive anxiety. The secondary outcome was to explore whether MSPE intervention can improve anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and eating disorders.Result: After the workshop and follow-up 1 month later, we found improvements in flow state (P=0.001; P=0.045), cognitive anxiety in competitive anxiety (P=0.056; P=0.008), global eating disorder (P=0.009; P<0.001), marked shape concern (P=0.005; P<0.001), and weight concern (P=0.007; P<0.001). Scores of sleep disturbance (P=0.047) showed significant improvement at follow-up. We also found significant association between flow state and mindfulness ability (P<0.001).Conclusion: This is the first mindfulness intervention to enhance athletes’ performance in Taiwan, and also the first application of MSPE for team sports. Our study results suggested that mindfulness ability is associated with flow state, and that MSPE is a promising training program for strengthening flow state and mental health. Keywords: elite athletes, eating disorders, sport performance, competitive anxiety, sport psychologyhttps://www.dovepress.com/mindfulness-training-enhances-flow-state-and-mental-health-among-baseb-peer-reviewed-article-PRBMelite athleteseating disorderssport performancecompetitive anxietysport psychology |
| spellingShingle | Chen JH Tsai PH Lin YC Chen CK Chen CY Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan Psychology Research and Behavior Management elite athletes eating disorders sport performance competitive anxiety sport psychology |
| title | Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan |
| title_full | Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan |
| title_short | Mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in Taiwan |
| title_sort | mindfulness training enhances flow state and mental health among baseball players in taiwan |
| topic | elite athletes eating disorders sport performance competitive anxiety sport psychology |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/mindfulness-training-enhances-flow-state-and-mental-health-among-baseb-peer-reviewed-article-PRBM |
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