title: Mindfulness training attenuates the increase in salivary cortisol concentration associated with competition in highly trained wheelchair-basketball players.
abstract: This study determined the effect of 8 wk of mindfulness training (MT) on salivary cortisol (sCort) and rate of salivary Immunoglobulin-A (sIgA) secretion in wheelchair-basketball players during a competition period. The mindful group completed 8 weeks of MT in addition to training and competition. sCort and rate of sIgA secretion were measured at baseline, at 2-week intervals, the end and 2 weeks following the intervention. A significant time and group interaction was observed for sCort (F = 3.297, P = 0.040, ES = 0.191); sCort increased in the control group from MT-BL to MT-2wk (P = 0.001) and remained significantly elevated at MT-4wk (P = 0.013) and MT-6wk (P = 0.002). sCort decreased from MT-6wk to MT-8wk (P < 0.001) and concentrations were not different at MT-8wk and Post-2wk to MT-BL (P > 0.05). Mindful group sCort increased from MT-BL to MT-2wk (P = 0.042) but decreased to concentrations no different to MT-BL for the rest of the intervention period (P > 0.05). There were no group differences in rate of sIgA secretion during the intervention (P = 0.810). It was concluded that 8 weeks of MT attenuated the increase in sCort associated with the competition period.
authors.affiliation: a Griffith University Sports Science, School of Allied Health Sciences , Griffith University , Gold Coast , Australia.|b Centre of Excellence for Applied Sport Science Research, Queensland Academy of Sport , Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing, Level 1, Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre , Nathan , Australia.
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: a Griffith University Sports Science, School of Allied Health Sciences , Griffith University , Gold Coast , Australia.
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Minahan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate; D000068997:Smartphone; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014910:Wheelchairs
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Mindfulness; competition; cortisol; immunoglobulin-A; team-sport