title: Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Sports-Anxiety, Pessimism, and Flow in Competitive Cyclists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated whether mindfulness training increases athletes' mindfulness and flow experience and decreases sport-specific anxiety and sport-specific pessimism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyclists were assigned to an eight-week mindfulness intervention, which incorporated a mindful spin-bike training component, or a wait-list control condition. Participants completed baseline and post-test measures of mindfulness, flow, sport-anxiety, and sport-related pessimistic attributions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses of covariance showed significant positive effects on mindfulness, flow, and pessimism for the 27 cyclists in the mindfulness intervention condition compared with the 20 cyclists in the control condition. Changes in mindfulness experienced by the intervention participants were positively associated with changes in flow.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions tailored to specific athletic pursuits can be effective in facilitating flow experiences.
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott-Hamilton
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicola S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.affiliation: Australia National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhonda F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D000067657:Pessimism / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; athletes; cyclists; flow; mindfulness; pessimism