TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between mindfulness and mental health outcomes in athletes: testing the mediating role of autonomy satisfaction as a core psychological need
AU - Shannon, Stephen
AU - Hanna, Donncha
AU - Leavey, Gerard
AU - Haughey, Tandy
AU - Neill, Drew
AU - Breslin, Gavin
PY - 2020/2/5
Y1 - 2020/2/5
N2 - Mindfulness may improve well-being through increasing one’s ability to self-regulate stressors, which are common and multifaceted among the student-athlete population. However, the mechanisms for influencing such effects lack a theoretical basis. Therefore, we sought to (i) determine the relationship between mindfulness, well-being and stress in student-athletes, and (ii) assess the mediating role of autonomy satisfaction, an innate psychological need required for optimal well-being according to Self-Determination Theory. This was a cross-sectional study of 240 student-athletes (aged 20.5; SD = 3.29; 53.7% males). Mindfulness and autonomy were regressed onto well-being (Model 1) and stress (Model 2) in multivariate regression models assessing direct and indirect mediating mechanisms. More than a third of athletes scored low on well-being, and only 3% high, and a significant proportion of variance was explained in both models (Model 1: R
2 =.40; Model 2: R
2 =.37). Mindfulness directly predicted autonomy satisfaction (β =.42, p <.001), well-being (β =.26, p <.001), and stress (β = −.21, p <.001). Autonomy satisfaction also directly predicted well-being (β =.47; p <.001) and stress (β = −.48; p <.001), whilst partially mediating the association between mindfulness and well-being (indirect β =.19) and stress (indirect β = −.20). To conclude, mindfulness may improve well-being and reduce stress through increasing athletes’ capacity to self-regulate, satisfying the psychological need for autonomy. Future research may consider designing a controlled trial of mindfulness interventions for student-athletes, underpinned and tested using SDT.
AB - Mindfulness may improve well-being through increasing one’s ability to self-regulate stressors, which are common and multifaceted among the student-athlete population. However, the mechanisms for influencing such effects lack a theoretical basis. Therefore, we sought to (i) determine the relationship between mindfulness, well-being and stress in student-athletes, and (ii) assess the mediating role of autonomy satisfaction, an innate psychological need required for optimal well-being according to Self-Determination Theory. This was a cross-sectional study of 240 student-athletes (aged 20.5; SD = 3.29; 53.7% males). Mindfulness and autonomy were regressed onto well-being (Model 1) and stress (Model 2) in multivariate regression models assessing direct and indirect mediating mechanisms. More than a third of athletes scored low on well-being, and only 3% high, and a significant proportion of variance was explained in both models (Model 1: R
2 =.40; Model 2: R
2 =.37). Mindfulness directly predicted autonomy satisfaction (β =.42, p <.001), well-being (β =.26, p <.001), and stress (β = −.21, p <.001). Autonomy satisfaction also directly predicted well-being (β =.47; p <.001) and stress (β = −.48; p <.001), whilst partially mediating the association between mindfulness and well-being (indirect β =.19) and stress (indirect β = −.20). To conclude, mindfulness may improve well-being and reduce stress through increasing athletes’ capacity to self-regulate, satisfying the psychological need for autonomy. Future research may consider designing a controlled trial of mindfulness interventions for student-athletes, underpinned and tested using SDT.
KW - Meditation
KW - health
KW - psychology
KW - self-determination theory
KW - sport
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079052722&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/1612197X.2020.1717578
DO - 10.1080/1612197X.2020.1717578
M3 - Article
SP - 1
EP - 16
JO - International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
JF - International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
SN - 1612-197X
ER -