The association and mechanisms between mindfulness and mental health outcomes in athletes: testing self-determination theory

Mindfulness may improve well-being through increasing one's ability to self-regulate stressors, which are common and multifaceted among the student-athlete population. However, the mechanisms for influencing such effects lack a theoretical basis. Therefore, we sought to (i) determine the relationship between mindfulness, well- being and stress in student-athletes, and (ii) assess the mediating role of autonomy satisfaction, an innate psychological need required for optimal well-being according to Self-Determination Theory (SDT). A cross-sectional study of 240 student-athletes (aged 20.5; SD = 3.29; 53.7% males) was conducted. Mindfulness and autonomy were regressed onto well-being (Model 1) and stress (Model 2) in multivariate regression models assessing direct and indirect mediating mechanisms. More than a third of athletes (35%) scored low on well-being, 62% medium, and only 3% high, and a significant proportion of variance was explained in both models (Model 1: R2 = .40; Model 2: R2 = .37). Mindfulness directly predicted autonomy satisfaction (β = .42, p< .001), well-being (β = .26, p< .001), and stress (β = −.21, p< .001). Autonomy satisfaction also directly predicted well-being (β= .47; p< .001) and stress (β = −.48; p< .001), whilst partially mediating the association between mindfulness and well-being (indirect β = .19) and stress (indirect β = −.20). To conclude, mindfulness may improve well-being and reduce stress through increasing athletes’ capacity to self-regulate, satisfying one's psychological need for autonomy. Further research currently being conducted by the authors is using a controlled trial of mindfulness interventions for student-athletes, underpinned and tested using SDT.