"Mindfulness and its Effects on Coping, Relationship Satisfaction, and Athletic Performance Among Collegiate Athletes"

 

Reka Anna Lassu- California State University, Chico

 

When one is mindful, they are sensitive to novelty during everyday experiences and they have direct experience in the present moment (Siegel, 2007).  Research has linked mindfulness to an array of positive benefits such as increased well being, improved primary relationship satisfaction, and enhanced athletic performance. 

 

This study explored the mindfulness characteristics of collegiate athletes and how that relates to their relationship with self, their primary partner, and their athletic team.  Athletes’ mindfulness, athletic coping skills, primary relationship security, and team consciousness were assessed using: the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI), Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ), and a 3 question version of the Job Performance Evaluation measure.

 

Participants (n= 195) were male and female athletes at a California State University, with a mean age of 20.26, who were all members of a NCAA-DII sports team.  I hypothesize that those athletes who have high levels of mindfulness, also have effective athletic coping skills, high relationship security, and strong athletic team consciousness. 

 

The results indicated that mindfulness correlated with the ACSI r=.46, p<.01 and several of its sub-scales.  It also correlated with the fearful attachment style of the RSQ r=-.15, p<.05.   This indicates that the more mindful an athlete is the better they are at coping and the less likely they are to have a fearful attachment style to their primary partner.

 

This research was presented at the Psychology Department's Honors Colloquium: