The effect of mindfulness training on the motivation and performance of student athletes

Background and Objectives: Learning mindfulness is one of the logical ways to help athletes to enter the state of smooth performance and reach peak performance. This research was conducted with the aim of the effect of mindfulness training on the motivation and performance of athletes.
Methods: The design of the current research is semi-experimental and pre-test and post-test with a control group. This research is applied in terms of purpose and semi-experimental in terms of method and consists of two comparison groups with random replacement, pre-test, post-test (6 sessions). The statistical population of the research was volleyball sports conservatory athletes whose sample size is 30 athletes based on the Stevens table and the semi-experimental nature of the research. The sample people were divided into two groups of 15 people, experimental and control. In order to collect information, standard sports motivation questionnaire (SMS-6) and athletes' performance questionnaire - Charbonneau (2001) were used, which were distributed among the sample by targeted sampling method. SPSS22 software was used to analyze the findings and covariance analysis was used to check the hypotheses.
Findings: It showed that with the pre-test control, there is a significant difference between the level of motivation of the athletes in the experimental group and the control group (P=0.000; F=5.229). In other words, mindfulness training has increased the motivation of athletes in the experimental group according to the average score of the total motivation of the athletes in the experimental group compared to the average of the control group. The amount of influence or difference is equal to 24/810. Further findings showed that with the pre-test control, there is a significant difference between the performance level of the athletes in the experimental group and the control group (P=0.000; F=6.145).In other words, mindfulness training has increased the performance of athletes in the experimental group according to the average score of the total performance of the athletes in the experimental group compared to the average of the control group. The effect or difference is equal to 27.321. Also, with the pre-test control, there is a significant difference between the level of internal motivation of the athletes in the experimental group and the control group (P=0.000; F=11.230). In other words, mindfulness training has increased the internal motivation of the athletes in the experimental group according to the average score of the total internal motivation of the athletes in the experimental group compared to the average of the control group. The amount of influence or difference is equal to 37/800. Also, with the pre-test control, there is a significant difference between the level of external motivation of the athletes in the experimental group and the control group (P=0.000; F=30.270).
Conclusion: Mindfulness training has increased the external motivation of athletes in the experimental group according to the average score of the total motivation of the athletes in the experimental group compared to the average of the control group