650 FO70 – Psychological flexibility skills in sport

Background Psychological flexibility skills supporting athletes mental wellbeing. Objectives Investigate the association between psychological flexibility skills and mental well-being in Finnish athletes. Investigate the effects of sport-specific ACT intervention on athlete`s psychological flexibility skills, mental well-being and symptoms. Desing This study is a correlational cohort study. Randomized controlled trial (intervention group/wait-list control group), pre and post measurements. Setting Clinical setting, national level athletes. Participants 106 athletes entering, 95 athletes finishing the study. Participants were recruited by letter of invitation sent directly to the athletes with the help of their sport coaches. All the participants were invited on a voluntary basis and informed that their anonymity would be preserved. The invitation letter contained information about the study, measurements, and purpose of the study. Participants registered for the study by email. The exclusion criteria were a) the athlete was not training professionally at sports academy or National Olympic Training Centre b) the athlete was offered another intensive psychological intervention at the same time c) it was known that the athlete could not participate in the 6-week intervention d) the athlete`s antidepressant dosage had been changed in the last six weeks e) the athlete had suicidal intent f) the athlete had an insufficient knowledge of the Finnish language. Interventions 6-week ACT intervention, 6 sessions (à 1hour), no risk factors. Main outcome measurements Mental health continuum short form, Recovery experience questionnaire, Rosenberg`s Self-esteem scale, Perceived stress scale, Depression scale. Results Athletes with better psychological flexibility skills experienced better mental wellbeing, and fewer stress and depressive symptoms than athletes with lower levels of flexibility skills. Different skills were related to difference dimensions of mental wellbeing and symptoms. Especially valued living skills, acceptance skills and mindfulness skills had significant associations to wellbeing. Conclusions Intervention decreased sport related avoidance behaviours and increased acceptance and mindfulness skills.