While mindfulness-based interventions are shown to enhance performance and well-being, little is known about how athletes perceive these concepts. Some researchers argue that blending Eastern mindfulness with Western psychology may limit mindfulness-based interventions’ effectiveness. This study explores U.S. college athletes’ expectations and understanding of mindfulness and self-compassion and how these evolve through a 7-week mindfulness-based intervention. Interviews were conducted before ( n = 26) and after ( n = 16) the intervention, and data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results revealed multiple levels of change, suggesting that expectations may influence outcomes and limited understanding may have restricted benefits. Findings also indicate that ambiguity from combining Eastern and Western approaches may contribute to confusion among athletes. Notably, a deeper understanding of mindfulness and self-compassion appeared linked to perceived improvements in mental efficiency and mindset. These insights underscore the importance of addressing athletes’ conceptualizations of mindfulness and self-compassion to optimize intervention outcomes.

Self-compassion may protect against poor mental health, but its role in adults engaged in competitive sport is less known. This study examined self-compassion and depression symptoms in masters athletes ( N = 133, 39.1% female, M age = 54.3 years, M VO2max = 45.9 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 ), exploring training factors as covariates. Participants completed questionnaires and fitness tests. Average self-compassion was high ( M = 3.58, SD = 0.55), with 54.9% scoring above a clinical threshold for depression. No significant sex differences were found in self-compassion or depression symptoms. As hypothesized, higher self-compassion was significantly associated with fewer depression symptoms (β = −2.67, SE = 0.52, p < .001). None of the covariates (sex, age, body mass index, maximal aerobic capacity, training hours, and competitions per year) were significantly linked to depression. The model explained 15% of depression variance. These findings suggest that self-compassion interventions could be a useful strategy to reduce depression symptoms in masters athletes.

This study explores how parents perceive and experience their roles in supporting top-ranked Irish tennis players and how these roles evolve over time. Through semistructured interviews conducted across a competitive season, the research provides a longitudinal perspective on the dynamic and evolving nature of parental involvement. Parents are identified as providers, interpreters, and role models, adapting their roles as their children progress in their tennis development. The study highlights how factors such as developmental stages, competition demands, seasonal challenges, and family dynamics influence parental involvement. A key contribution is the use of a longitudinal sliding population sample, capturing parents’ experiences across various seasonal and developmental stages within the talent-development pathway. These findings emphasize the need for tailored parent education programs incorporating context-specific scientific information aligned with the developmental stage. Ultimately, this research provides new insights into the adaptive strategies parents employ to support their children’s athletic development.

High-performance coaches face complex challenges within their profession, which affect both their performance and their well-being. Through a qualitative study design, we aimed to understand how serial-winning high-performance coaches perceive self-compassion practice. Nine Scandinavian participants from various sports (female = 1, male = 8) explored self-compassion through psychoeducation and 1 week of practice followed by interviews. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The three themes are represented via a creative nonfiction story: “We have no fear of self-compassion”; “Realizing why I should be a more compassionate friend to myself, it gives me a performance edge”; and “You have to take the armor off, and that is sometimes hard.” This study offers novel insights from serial-winning high-performance coaches—a typically hard-to-reach sample. The findings show how self-compassion was perceived as beneficial based on participants’ prolonged experience navigating challenges, and how self-compassion may contribute to psychologically safe high-performance environments.

There has been an increased demand for postgraduate sport psychology supervision to complete Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification’s requirements. Although this supervision is conducted in private practice, there is limited guidance on how to set up this service. The purpose of this study was to explore logistics, challenges, and strategies implemented by sport psychology supervisors working outside academia. Certified Mental Performance Consultant mentors (N = 108) completed a survey about their supervision in private practice. Participants tended to select mentees via interviews, use individual supervision, and fees charged varied between $0 and $250. Mentors described challenges such as mentees not accepting feedback, being unresponsive to supervision, and communicating poorly. Results may aid supervisors in further developing their own supervision logistics when working outside of academia. Additionally, information from this study can help sport psychology graduates learn what to expect as they begin their search for a mentor.

Aims: The primary aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between organizational stressors and mental health and well-being indicators of the Irish Olympic Team before and after the “Tokyo 2020” Olympic Games. A secondary aim was to examine the differences in mental health and well-being between the athletes and staff of Team Ireland pre- and post-Games. Method: The Irish Olympic Team comprised 271 members (116 athletes and 155 team staff). Participants were sent an online survey package 2 weeks pregames (Time 1) and 4 weeks postgames (Time 2). A total of 98 participants (36% response rate) responded at Time 1, and 70 participants (26% response rate) responded at Time 2. Measures included the Organizational Stressor Indicator for Sport Performers, the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form, and the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1. Results: There was a significant inverse association between organizational stressors and mental well-being at both Time 1 (β = −0.46) and Time 2 (β = −0.35) and from pre- to post-Games (β = −0.48). There was a significant positive association between organizational stressors and risk of mental health symptoms at both Time 1 (β = 0.69) and Time 2 (β = 0.67) and from pre- to post-Games (β = 0.34). At Time 1, team staff (75%) reported significantly greater risk of mental health symptoms than athletes (50%); however, at Time 2, athletes (80%) reported significantly greater risk of mental health symptoms than staff (50%). The overall number of participants flourishing decreased from pre- (43%) to post-Games (31%). Conclusion: Findings have implications for mental health support provision, which tends to be athlete focused but might forget about team staff, and to consider preevent provision but to also not forget about postevent care.

Competitive sport has the potential to increase chronic stress and, hence, the risk of burnout. The aim of this paper was, first, to examine the relationship between athlete burnout and trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and, second, to look at the mediating role of coping strategies between TEI and athlete burnout. In two samples of athletes (N1 = 290; N2 = 144), we conducted correlation analyses linking dimensions of TEI with athlete burnout and found negative correlations. We then tested a structural equation model in the second sample, hypothesizing an indirect link between TEI and athlete burnout via coping strategies. Results showed a mediation effect of emotion-focused to problem-focused coping between TEI and athlete burnout. Avoidance coping showed a positive direct effect on athlete burnout. Further research should investigate effective coping strategies and clarify whether emotional intelligence training may be used to protect athletes from developing burnout.

The purpose of the present study was to design, implement, and evaluate the delivery and utility of a multicomponent online intervention that aimed to protect and promote the well-being of competitive and high-performance swimmers. Utilizing an action research methodology, the current study evaluated the delivery and utility of an intervention comprising six online workshops that were tailored to the needs of high-performance swimmers (n attending = 46). In addition, an accompanying workshop for parents (n attending = 22) and coaches (n attending = 17) was developed and delivered. Data were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Overall, feedback on the intervention was positive, with participants indicating that they enjoyed the sessions, particularly opportunities for discussion and reflection, as well as learning from the experiences of a professional swimmer. Participants also indicated that their understanding and knowledge regarding well-being increased, as well as gaining reassurance and confidence regarding the support and strategies they had available. Nevertheless, there were some challenges and limitations identified with the workshops, which should be considered for future research and interventions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sexual orientation on college athlete sport-related well-being and determine whether team belonging influenced this relation. Two hundred nineteen college athletes completed an online questionnaire including a demographic survey, measure of sport belonging, and the Sport Mental Health Continuum-Short Form. Mediation analysis assessed direct and indirect effects of sexual orientation on sport-related well-being through sport belonging, controlling for demographic variables (race, sport gender, first-generation status, and years on team). Queer-spectrum sexual orientation significantly predicted lower levels of sport belonging, sport psychological well-being, and social sport well-being. A PROCESS macro confirmed that sport belonging partially mediated the relation between sexual orientation and sport psychological well-being. Findings highlight the importance of identity and the social environment’s impact on sport belonging and well-being. Inclusion strategies are discussed to improve queer-spectrum athlete experience.