There is increasing interest in applying acceptance and mindfulness interventions amongathletes. However, there is a lack of sport-specific psychometrically evaluated scales tomeasure the impact of these interventions. The present study describes the developmentof a measure: the Psychological Flexibility in Sport Scale (PFSS). Its validity was testedin two studies. In the first study, with 152 elite athletes from various sports, explorativefactor analysis was used to evaluate the scale’s validity, and one factor emerged withseven items. Significant correlations between psychological flexibility, performance, andquality of life were found. Moreover, the PFSS was significantly negatively associated withage, number of years in sport, and number of years as an elite athlete. In the secondstudy, the confirmatory factor analysis with a new population (252 athletes) supportedthe one-factor solution. Further, positive associations were found with anxiety (BAI) anddepression (BDI-I), indicating construct validity. In conclusion, this study presents a scalefor measuring psychological flexibility in a broad range of athletes, with satisfactorypsychometric properties and the potential to be a useful instrument for both researchersand clinicians in the sport field

ObjectivesThe aim of the studywas to compare the effects of a brief body scan with relaxation as an active control group to better understand their respective contributions to the reduction of sleep problems and anxiety symptoms among adolescent athletes.MethodTwo hundred and six adolescent athletes were recruited during the school year 2016/2017 and randomized into four arms: 4 weeks body scan, 8 weeks body scan, 4 weeks relaxation, and 8 weeks relaxation. Sleep problems and anxiety were measured at baseline and 4, 8, and 16 weeks after baseline. Time trends in sleep problems and anxiety were estimated using linear repeated measures models and compared between the four groups.ResultsOverall, there were beneficial time changes for sleep problems and anxiety symptoms in all four intervention groups, but significantly so only for anxiety symptoms. Specifically, the reduction of anxiety symptoms varied between - 11% per month for 8 weeks body scan, - 12% per month for 8 weeks relaxation, - 13% per month for 4 weeks relaxation, and - 16% per month for 4 weeks body scan. However, the time trends did not differ by intervention type or duration.ConclusionsBoth types of interventions had beneficial effects on anxiety independent of length of intervention, suggesting that a brief body scan as well as a brief relaxation could be part of a daily recovery practice for adolescent athletes.PreregistrationThis study was not preregistered.

Introduction There has been a growing interest in mindfulness research during the past three decades. However, studies investigating the mediating mechanisms of mindfulness on student-athletes and their quality of life (QoL) are sparse. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine if the effects of a brief body scan intervention on QoL among student-athletes would mediate a change in five facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, describing, non-judgment, non-reactivity, and observing).Methods Swedish student-athletes (n = 99; 40% female participants) were recruited from six provincial high schools specialized in sports (basketball, k = 5; cross-country skiing, k = 1). The student-athletes were randomized into two arms: a 4-week body scan (intervention group) and a 4-week relaxation (active control group). Participants completed self-reported measures of QoL and mindfulness three times: at baseline; at follow-up, 4 weeks after baseline; and 8 weeks after baseline. A simple mediation analysis was conducted.Results Results showed no significant differences between the body scan and relaxation on QoL change (c-path). There were no significant associations between the independent variable (body scan and relaxation) and the mediator Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) (a-path). Results did not demonstrate any significant indirect associations between FFMQ and QoL (b-path) for the five facets of FFMQ. In conclusion, body scans did not have any effect on student-athletes' QoL.Discussion This study provides a first step toward investigating facets of mindfulness and QoL among student-athletes. No direct associations were revealed in this pilot study. Future research should refine mindfulness interventions and explore diverse mindfulness practices to better understand which facets of mindfulness may be helpful for student-athletes' QoL.