The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study
IntroductionThere has been a growing interest in mindfulness research during the past three decades. However, studies investigating the mediating mechanisms of mindfulness on student-athletes and their quality of life (QoL) are sparse. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine if the effects of...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1479584/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849715207587233792 |
|---|---|
| author | Lis Johles Peter Molander Peter Molander Carolina Lundqvist Carolina Lundqvist |
| author_facet | Lis Johles Peter Molander Peter Molander Carolina Lundqvist Carolina Lundqvist |
| author_sort | Lis Johles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThere has been a growing interest in mindfulness research during the past three decades. However, studies investigating the mediating mechanisms of mindfulness on student-athletes and their quality of life (QoL) are sparse. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine if the effects of a brief body scan intervention on QoL among student-athletes would mediate a change in five facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, describing, non-judgment, non-reactivity, and observing).MethodsSwedish student-athletes (n = 99; 40% female participants) were recruited from six provincial high schools specialized in sports (basketball, k = 5; cross-country skiing, k = 1). The student-athletes were randomized into two arms: a 4-week body scan (intervention group) and a 4-week relaxation (active control group). Participants completed self-reported measures of QoL and mindfulness three times: at baseline; at follow-up, 4 weeks after baseline; and 8 weeks after baseline. A simple mediation analysis was conducted.ResultsResults showed no significant differences between the body scan and relaxation on QoL change (c-path). There were no significant associations between the independent variable (body scan and relaxation) and the mediator Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) (a-path). Results did not demonstrate any significant indirect associations between FFMQ and QoL (b-path) for the five facets of FFMQ. In conclusion, body scans did not have any effect on student-athletes’ QoL.DiscussionThis study provides a first step toward investigating facets of mindfulness and QoL among student-athletes. No direct associations were revealed in this pilot study. Future research should refine mindfulness interventions and explore diverse mindfulness practices to better understand which facets of mindfulness may be helpful for student-athletes’ QoL. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c15df9aee8654b5280fb0bbcb38f90d4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c15df9aee8654b5280fb0bbcb38f90d42025-08-20T03:13:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14795841479584The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation studyLis Johles0Peter Molander1Peter Molander2Carolina Lundqvist3Carolina Lundqvist4Department of Social and Psychological Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Health, Medicine, and Caring Sciences, Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenAthletics Research Center, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenIntroductionThere has been a growing interest in mindfulness research during the past three decades. However, studies investigating the mediating mechanisms of mindfulness on student-athletes and their quality of life (QoL) are sparse. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine if the effects of a brief body scan intervention on QoL among student-athletes would mediate a change in five facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, describing, non-judgment, non-reactivity, and observing).MethodsSwedish student-athletes (n = 99; 40% female participants) were recruited from six provincial high schools specialized in sports (basketball, k = 5; cross-country skiing, k = 1). The student-athletes were randomized into two arms: a 4-week body scan (intervention group) and a 4-week relaxation (active control group). Participants completed self-reported measures of QoL and mindfulness three times: at baseline; at follow-up, 4 weeks after baseline; and 8 weeks after baseline. A simple mediation analysis was conducted.ResultsResults showed no significant differences between the body scan and relaxation on QoL change (c-path). There were no significant associations between the independent variable (body scan and relaxation) and the mediator Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) (a-path). Results did not demonstrate any significant indirect associations between FFMQ and QoL (b-path) for the five facets of FFMQ. In conclusion, body scans did not have any effect on student-athletes’ QoL.DiscussionThis study provides a first step toward investigating facets of mindfulness and QoL among student-athletes. No direct associations were revealed in this pilot study. Future research should refine mindfulness interventions and explore diverse mindfulness practices to better understand which facets of mindfulness may be helpful for student-athletes’ QoL.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1479584/fullathletesbody scanmediation analysisrelaxationquality of life |
| spellingShingle | Lis Johles Peter Molander Peter Molander Carolina Lundqvist Carolina Lundqvist The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study Frontiers in Psychology athletes body scan mediation analysis relaxation quality of life |
| title | The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study |
| title_full | The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study |
| title_fullStr | The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study |
| title_short | The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study |
| title_sort | role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student athletes a pilot mediation study |
| topic | athletes body scan mediation analysis relaxation quality of life |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1479584/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lisjohles theroleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT petermolander theroleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT petermolander theroleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT carolinalundqvist theroleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT carolinalundqvist theroleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT lisjohles roleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT petermolander roleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT petermolander roleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT carolinalundqvist roleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy AT carolinalundqvist roleofmindfulnessinimprovingqualityoflifeamongstudentathletesapilotmediationstudy |