Mindfulness approaches to athlete well-being

Abstract

The present chapter explored the application of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) to athlete well-being. Although the application of MBIs to the sport domain is in its relative infancy, there has been significant growth in recent years in terms of mindfulness research and application in both clinical and sport psychology. Based upon this research literature, the present chapter described how MBIs can be utilized to help athletes deal with sport-related stressors and improve their overall well-being. In particular, this chapter discussed how promoting cognitive defusion, acceptance, and present moment awareness can be beneficial to athlete well-being.