Helping athletes flourish using mindfulness and acceptance approaches – an introduction and mini review

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Control Techniques ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Core Concepts

Mindfulness and acceptance are core concepts of the third wave of cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies. Their aim is not to overpower thoughts and emotions by suppression and using control techniques but to change the relationships with them. This article focuses on mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches in sports. It briefly outlines these approaches and concludes that they are characterized by promoting three processes, which are present-moment attention, metacognitive awareness, and acceptance. Subsequently, the paper describes one approach particularly suitable for sports in detail – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – with a special focus on how athletes can promote psychological flexibility and thrive in their effort to perform. This paper further addresses the question of whether mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches are effective in sports by summarizing research from the past five years in the form of a mini-review. Findings from 19 reviewed studies, including 15 controlled or randomized controlled studies, suggest that different athlete populations can benefit from mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches in terms of athletic performance and well-being. Positive effects on performance and well-being could be mediated by other psychological processes, e.g., enhanced emotion regulation. Further research is needed, especially regarding the mechanisms that impact mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions in sports.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of depression in persons with physical disability: a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 938-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Zemestani ◽  
Sharmin Mozaffari
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Experimental Group

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on depressive symptoms in physically disabled persons. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: State welfare organization in Kamyaran, Kurdistan, Iran. Participants: Fifty-two physically disabled participants with a primary diagnosis of depression were randomly assigned to either ACT or control groups. Interventions: Participants in the ACT group ( n = 23) received eight weekly 90-minute group sessions based on standard ACT protocol for depression. Participants in the control group ( n = 29) received psychoeducation regarding depression. Main measures: Measures were recorded at baseline, eight weeks (end of treatment), and 16 weeks (follow-up). The outcomes were the change in the depressive symptoms, measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being measured by Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB), respectively. Results: After eight weeks, significant changes in depressive symptoms was observed in the experimental group (ACT –10.39 ± 0.79 vs control 0.66 ± 0.68, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the experimental group also showed significant improvement in psychological flexibility (ACT 8.13 ± 0.52 vs control –0.03 ± 0.51, P < 0.001), adaptive emotion regulation strategies (ACT 10.74 ± 0.62 vs control 0.03 ± 1.03, P < 0.001), and psychological well-being (ACT 66.95 ± 4.01 vs control –1.90 ± 1.04, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared with control group, ACT significantly reduced the participants’ depression, and changed psychological flexibility, emotion regulation, and psychological well-being in persons with physical disability.

scholarly journals The BrainACT study: acceptance and commitment therapy for depressive and anxiety symptoms following acquired brain injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Rauwenhoff ◽  
Frenk Peeters ◽  
Yvonne Bol ◽  
Caroline Van Heugten
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Background Following an acquired brain injury, individuals frequently experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. However, current treatments for these symptoms are not very effective. A promising treatment is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which is a third-wave behavioural therapy. The primary goal of this therapy is not to reduce symptoms, but to improve psychological flexibility and general well-being, which may be accompanied by a reduction in symptom severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of an adapted ACT intervention (BrainACT) in people with acquired brain injury who experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Methods The study is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, two-arm parallel trial. In total, 94 patients who survive a stroke or traumatic brain injury will be randomized into an ACT or control (i.e. psycho-education and relaxation) intervention. The primary outcome measures are the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Outcomes will be assessed by trained assessors, blinded to treatment condition, pre-treatment, during treatment, post-treatment, and at 7 and 12 months. Discussion This study will contribute to the existing knowledge on how to treat psychological distress following acquired brain injury. If effective, BrainACT could be implemented in clinical practice and potentially help a large number of patients with acquired brain injury. Trial registration Dutch Trial Register, NL691, NTR 7111. Registered on 26 March 2018. https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6916.

Using Art-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for an Adolescent With Anxiety and Autism

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 438-455
Author(s):  
Rosanna Chapman ◽  
Bethan Evans
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Centered Care

Anxiety is a common experience for young people with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). This article describes the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) through the medium of art to increase well-being for a young woman with ASC and significant anxiety. An ACT art protocol was delivered over 8-weekly sessions with outcome measured administered at baseline, pre-, mid- and post-intervention. Follow-up data were also obtained 3 months after the intervention. It was found that the young person experienced improvements in measures of well-being and psychological flexibility. Importantly, these were seen to translate to increased engagement in activities that were in line with the young person’s values. This demonstrates that using third-wave approaches for young people with ASC can result in improvements in well-being and quality of life, but that adaptations in line with person-centered care are crucial to facilitate engagement and produce meaningful change.

Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement: Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mental Training Program With Collegiate Athletes

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol R. Glass ◽  
Claire A. Spears ◽  
Rokas Perskaudas ◽  
Keith A. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Randomized Controlled

College is a stressful time for many students, including student-athletes, who may benefit from mindfulness interventions focusing on present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance. Mindful sport performance enhancement (MSPE) has shown promise in previous open trials for promoting both athlete well-being and psychological factors related to sport performance, and this first randomized controlled trial of MSPE was conducted with mixed-sport groups of 52 NCAA Division III student-athletes. Each of the six sessions included educational, discussion-based, experiential, and home practice components, with meditation exercises progressing from sedentary mindfulness to mindfulness in motion. Whereas wait-list controls showed significant increases in depressive symptoms, those who received MSPE evidenced non-significant reductions in depressive symptoms over the course of treatment. Furthermore, once controls had also received MSPE, treatment completers (the 41% who attended at least five of six MSPE sessions) demonstrated significant increases in flow, trait mindfulness, satisfaction with life, and self-rated sport performance, along with reductions in worry, with medium to large effect sizes. There were no significant changes for treatment completers from post-treatment to 6-month follow-up, suggesting that improvements were maintained over time.

scholarly journals The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Education Program on Brain Waves and the Autonomic Nervous System in University Students

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1606
Author(s):  
Mijung Jung ◽  
Mikyoung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
University Students ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Autonomic Nervous ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Brain Waves ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Mindfulness, defined as the awareness emerging from purposefully paying attention to the present moment, has been shown to be effective in reducing stress and, thus, promoting psychological well-being. This study investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based education program on mindfulness, brain waves, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in university students in Korea. Methods: This study is a quantitative and experimental research with a single-group pre-post design. Six sessions of mindfulness-based intervention were applied. In total, 42 students completed a mindfulness questionnaire before and after the intervention, and 28 among them completed pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of brain waves and ANS. Results: The level of mindfulness increased in the participants after intervention. Regarding brain waves, the alpha and theta waves increased, but the beta waves decreased. There was no significant difference in the ANS, presenting no change in heart rate variability. Conclusions: We identified the positive effects of the mindfulness-based education program for university students. The findings indicate that this program may help students not only relax, but also generate a mindfulness state in stressful situations, potentially leading to a successful university life. This study can be used as a basis for quality improvement and sustainability of mindfulness-based education programs for university students.

scholarly journals Effect of Resistance Training in the Treatment of Pre-Sarcopenia or Sarcopenia and Pre-Frailty or Frailty in Older People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Talar ◽  
Tomas Vetrovsky ◽  
Ewa Kalamacka ◽  
Michal Steffl
Keyword(s):  
Resistance Training ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Strength Effect

Abstract Background: Resistance training (RT) is considered as an effective method to increase muscle strength and physical performance in elderly people. Methods: A search from the earliest record up to and including June 2019 was carried out using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The search strategy employed combined the terms related to the population (e.g. ‘sarcopenia’, ‘frailty’) with terms for the intervention (e.g. ‘resistance training’, ‘strength training’). Results: 11 studies including 2691 subjects were included in our meta-analysis (aged 64-98). Training duration ranged from 8 to 48 weeks and intensity up to 80% of 1-RM. According to the meta-analyses, RT had statistically significant effect on all the measures except handgrip strength. In handgrip strength Effect size (ES) was 0.58 (95 % CI: - 0.10 to 1.26) p = 0.076 with the moderate heterogeneity (I 2 = 58.6%). ES in legs strength was 0.52 (95 % CI 0.11 to 0.92) p = 0.022, I 2 = 42.0 %. The biggest ES was in TUG test where ES was 0.90 (95 % CI 0.19 to 1.60) p = 0.022, however, there was a high heterogeneity I 2 = 89.6. The high ES was found also in FFM 0.69 (95 % CI 0.17 to 1.20) p = 0.025, and gait speed 0.41 (95 % CI 0.11 to 0.72) p = 0.017. In both cases, there was small heterogeneity I 2 = 13.2 % respective 38.3 %. The overall ES was estimated 0.67 (95 % CI 0.40 to 0.93) p <0.001. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity was high I 2 = 78.1 %.Conclusion: RT interventions in pre-frail, frail, pre-sarcopenic and sarcopenic older adults, provided evidence that RT has positive effects on most of the outcome measurements included in the current revision except handgrip strength.

scholarly journals At the End of the Day, Are Screens Good or Bad for You? A Critical Review of Randomized Controlled Studies

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noa Albelda ◽  
Carrah Simkins ◽  
Dalith Tal-Shir ◽  
Nava Levit-Binnun
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Well Being ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Past ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Screen Use

In recent years, screen-based technologies have changed the way we communicate, study and consume goods, entertainment and information. Thus, our environment has changed profoundly, and it is reasonable to assume that children today have a different developmental environment compared to the past, making it crucial to understand the impact of our technology-rich environment on development as well as on physical and psychological well-being. The goal of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive review of randomized controlled studies assessing effects of screen use on physiology and behavior, in order to give as wide as possible a picture of screen use and its various effects. We conclude with a discussion focusing on the ability to reach “bottom lines” regarding the down- and upsides of screen-use. We also highlight and discuss the major areas in which knowledge about the effects of screens is lacking, requiring further high-quality and well-controlled studies.

scholarly journals Following the Science to Generate Well-Being: Using the Highest-Quality Experimental Evidence to Design Interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stewart I. Donaldson ◽  
Victoria Cabrera ◽  
Jaclyn Gaffaney
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Equitable Access ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Second Wave

The second wave of devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to dramatic declines in well-being. While much of the well-being literature is based on descriptive and correlational studies, this paper evaluates a growing body of causal evidence from high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that test the efficacy of positive psychology interventions (PPIs). This systematic review analyzed the findings from 25 meta-analyses, 42 review papers, and the high-quality RCTs of PPIs designed to generate well-being that were included within those studies. Findings reveal PPIs have the potential to generate well-being even during a global pandemic, with larger effect sizes in non-Western countries. Four exemplar PPIs—that have been tested with a high-quality RCT, have positive effects on well-being, and could be implemented during a global pandemic—are presented and discussed. Future efforts to generate well-being can build on this causal evidence and emulate the most efficacious PPIs to be as effective as possible at generating well-being. However, the four exemplars were only tested in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic) countries but seem promising for implementation and evaluation in non-WEIRD contexts. This review highlights the overall need for more rigorous research on PPIs with more diverse populations and in non-WEIRD contexts to ensure equitable access to effective interventions that generate well-being for all.

scholarly journals The ACTyourCHANGE in Teens Study Protocol: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6225
Author(s):  
Anna Guerrini Usubini ◽  
Roberto Cattivelli ◽  
Vanessa Bertuzzi ◽  
Giorgia Varallo ◽  
Alessandro Alberto Rossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

This Randomized Controlled Trial [(RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based intervention combined with treatment as usual (TAU) compared to TAU only in improving psychological conditions in a sample of adolescents with obesity (body mass index, BMI > 97th percentile for age and sex) within the context of a wider multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for weight loss. Fifty consecutive adolescents (12–17 years) of both genders with obesity will be recruited among the patients hospitalized in a clinical center for obesity rehabilitation and randomly allocated into two experimental conditions: ACT + TAU vs. TAU only. Both groups will attend a three-week in-hospital multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for weight loss. The ACT + TAU condition comprises a psychological intervention based on ACT combined with a standard psychological assessment and support to the hospitalization. The TAU comprises the standard psychological assessment and support to the hospitalization. At pre- to post-psychological intervention, participants will complete the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire to assess psychological well-being as the primary outcome and experiential avoidance, psychological distress, emotional dysregulation, and emotional eating as secondary outcomes. Repeated-measures ANOVAs (2 × 2) will be conducted. The study will assess the effectiveness of a brief ACT-based intervention for adolescents with obesity in improving their psychological conditions by targeting specific core processes of the ACT framework (openness, awareness, and engagement). Future directions of the study will assess whether these psychological processes will contribute to addressing long-term weight loss.

scholarly journals The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Improving Psychological Well-Being in Parents of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 880
Author(s):  
Flavia Marino ◽  
Chiara Failla ◽  
Paola Chilà ◽  
Roberta Minutoli ◽  
Alfio Puglisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

Background: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been demonstrated as effective in improving psychological well-being in several clinical domains, but there is no evidence regarding the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the efficacy of the ACT matrix behavioral protocol in comparison to the Parent Training (PT) program, measuring several primary and secondary outcomes prior to and following treatments. Twelve parents were randomly and equally assigned to two demographically matched groups wherein individuals underwent 24 weekly meetings of ACT protocol (experimental group) or conventional PT (control group). Results: Parents enrolled in the ACT protocol demonstrated significant improvement in psychological flexibility, awareness states, personal values in everyday life, and parental stress, whereas reduced scores were elicited in parents’ perceptions of their child’s disruptive behaviors. Conclusions: The results of this randomized controlled trial, if repeated with a large number of subjects, could open the way to include ACT protocols in daily practice to support the development of new parenting skills.

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