Enhancing wellbeing and resilience in coaches: The impact of a mindfulnessbased intervention

Abstract

Mindfulness training, characterised by the cultivation of present-moment awareness and non-judgmental attention, has emerged as a potent tool for enhancing mental wellbeing and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. In the realm of sports, its effectiveness in fortifying the mental resilience and performance of athletes and coaches has garnered significant attention. This study sought to investigate the impact of an online mindfulness-based intervention on the perceptions of stress, emotion regulation, and burnout among full-time coaches. Sixteen full-time coaches (nine females and seven males) engaged in a six-week online mindfulness-based intervention program, an adaptation of the Mindfulness Training for Coaches program, within the context of swimming as a sport. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires assessing their levels of mindfulness, emotion regulation, burnout, and stress. Data collection occurred before the intervention, at weeks three and five during the program, and post-intervention. Baseline data indicated that full-time coaches reported significant levels of burnout. The study’s results unveiled notable improvements, with coaches experiencing (a) a significant reduction in difficulties associated with regulating emotions (p = .02) and stress (p < .001), (b) a noteworthy trend towards increased mindfulness scores (p = .08), and (c) a promising trend towards decreased burnout (p = .08). This investigation underscores the relevance of mindfulness participation in bolstering the wellbeing of full-time coaches, demonstrating its potential to enhance their mental fortitude and reduce the detrimental effects of stress and burnout. The implications extend beyond coaching, offering insights into the broader application of mindfulness interventions for improved mental wellbeing and performance within the sports arena.