Systematic review of mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral interventions in improving athletic performance in young athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v76.118421Keywords:
Athletic performance, mindfulness, sport psychology, young athletesAbstract
Introduction: athletic performance in young athletes depended on the interaction of physical, technical, and psychological factors, with recent years showing growing interest in mindfulness-based cognitive–behavioral interventions as strategies to optimize performance and psychological well-being in formative sports contexts.
Objective: the objective of the study was to systematically analyze the scientific evidence published between 2021 and 2025 on mindfulness-based cognitive–behavioral interventions and their effect on improving athletic performance in young athletes, as well as to identify research trends, scope, and gaps.
Methodology: a systematic review with a quantitative approach, descriptive–explanatory scope, and non-experimental documentary design was conducted. Twenty scientific articles were selected using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, analyzing intervention types, methodological characteristics, evaluated variables, and main reported outcomes.
Results: the findings showed that mindfulness-based interventions were associated with significant improvements in athletic performance and related psychological variables, particularly attention, competitive anxiety, and flow state. Structured programs grounded in third-wave cognitive–behavioral models demonstrated more consistent effects.
Discussion: the results were interpreted in coherence with previous research, confirming the effectiveness of mindfulness as a psychological strategy applied to youth sport and highlighting psychological flexibility as a central mechanism of change.
Conclusions: the review demonstrated that mindfulness-based cognitive–behavioral interventions constitute a relevant and current contribution to the optimization of athletic performance in young athletes.
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