Presenter: Sera N. Gagnon

Faculty Sponsor: Danielle Wigmore

School: Fitchburg State University

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A63

ABSTRACT

Implementing meditation into the lives of athletes has become a growing topic of conversation. Meditation is a practice that trains attention and awareness to promote mental clarity and calm, and had a huge spike in global engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by up to 2900% (Mcgroarty, 2020). While meditation is widely recognized for its mental health benefits, it can also help athletes in their mental preparation for sport. Studies show a relationship between mindfulness training and improved competitive performance across sports (Colzato & Kibele 2017, Glass et al. 2019). Evidence supports that improved mental states (such as reduced anxiety and improved emotional regulation) are associated with better competition preparation. Meditation has the potential to help athletes manage the pressure, fatigue, and psychological demands they face to achieve this improved mental state. This presentation will evaluate existing research on meditation and mindfulness based interventions (MBI) in sport, focusing on their effects on psychological functioning and physical performance. Specifically, it will explore different ways meditation is beneficial (such as reducing anxiety, improving emotional regulation, and achieving flow state), different types of meditation, and different athlete populations, while also addressing barriers to accessibility such as time and available resources. Overall, this presentation will demonstrate how meditation can benefit athletes, helping reach their full potential in sport competition.