The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Strategies on Perceived Stress and Psychobiosocial States in Athletes and Recreationally Active People

Selenia di Fronso, Claudio Robazza, Réka Zsanett Bondár and Maurizio Bertollo
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Selenia di Fronso: Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND) Center, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Claudio Robazza: Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND) Center, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Réka Zsanett Bondár: Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND) Center, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Maurizio Bertollo: Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND) Center, 66100 Chieti, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: The mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme is gaining increasing attention in sport and physical activity domains. This programme comprises three meditation practices: mindful yoga, body scan, and sitting meditation. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of a dynamic (mindful yoga) strategy and a static (a combination of body scan/sitting meditation) strategy on participants’ psychobiosocial states (PBS), perceived stress (PS) and mindfulness levels in athletes and recreationally active (RA) people. Thirty-four participants (athletes = 18; RA participants = 16) were assigned to a dynamic intervention strategy, and another 34 (athletes = 19; RA participants = 15) were assigned to the static intervention strategy. Before the intervention, after the intervention and three weeks later, the Italian versions of the PBS scale, the PS scale and the Mindful Attention Awareness scale were administered. RM-(M)ANOVAs revealed that intervention strategies improved functional PBS, reduced PS and enhanced mindfulness levels in both athletes and RA participants after the intervention ( p < 0.001, η p 2 = 0.605). However, improved functional PBS after the intervention ( p < 0.001; d = 0.62) and stable PS levels at follow-up ( p = 1) were observed mainly in athletes. The findings reinforce the view of the importance of the body as a means to improve emotional and health processes, and support the use of mindfulness strategies in sport to enhance individuals’ well-being.

Keywords: body scan; dynamic and static strategies; emotions; MBSR; mindful yoga; sitting meditation; sport/physical activity; stress perception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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