title: Applying self-compassion in sport: an intervention with women athletes.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of a self-compassion intervention on negative cognitive states and self-compassion in varsity women athletes. Athletes who self-identified as being self-critical were randomly assigned to a self-compassion intervention (n = 29) or attention control group (n = 22). The self-compassion intervention consisted of a psychoeducation session and writing components completed over a 7-day period. Measures of self-compassion, state self-criticism, state rumination, and concern over mistakes were collected pretreatment, at 1 week posttreatment, and at a 4-week follow-up. A mixed factorial MANOVA with follow-up post hoc tests demonstrated moderate-to-strong effects for the intervention at posttest and follow-up (Wilks's Λ = .566, F (8, 42) = 4.03, p < .01, η2 = .43). The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the self-compassion intervention in managing self-criticism, rumination, and concern over mistakes. Fostering self-compassionate mind frames is a potential coping resource for women athletes dealing with negative events in sport.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Amber D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mosewich
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Crocker P
authors.forename: Kent C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delongis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002170:Canada; D004645:Empathy / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult