Enhancing psychological performance and basketball skills: a comparative study of elite athletes and college recreational players after an 8-week mindfulness intervention

Background In high-intensity sports such as basketball, psychological factors significantly influence performance. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show potential for reducing anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue while enhancing attention, resilience, and basketball technical skills. However, few studies have compared the effects of MBI between elite athletes and recreational players. Purpose This research examined the effects of an 8-week Mindfulness Acceptance Insight Commitment (MAIC) intervention on psychological performance and technical skills among elite basketball athletes and collegiate recreational players, while investigating skill level as a moderator. Methods Sixty seven participants (24 elite athletes, 43 recreational players) were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. The MAIC program consisted of two 60-min sessions per week. Psychological measures included the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Schultz Attention Test (SAT), and Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Basketball skill assessments comprised the Speed and Accurate Shooting Test, Obstacle Dribbling Test, Defensive Sliding Test, Lay-up Test, and No-Ball Maneuver Running. Assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention. Results Sixty three participants completed the study. Elite athletes showed significant improvements in STAI, CD-RISC, and Obstacle dribbling test performance post-MAIC, with a trend toward benefit in the SAT. Recreational players demonstrated broader benefits, including improvements in Speed and Accurate Shooting Test, Lay-up Test, STAI, SAT, and CD-RISC. ANOVA revealed that, controlling for baseline measures, recreational basketball players demonstrated greater benefits than elite athletes in shooting, dribbling, anxiety, and depression, indicating a skill-level moderating effect. Conclusion MAIC enhances psychological and technical performance differentially: elite athletes primarily benefit in targeted psychological domains, while recreational players experience more comprehensive psychological and skill-related effects. These findings support personalized mindfulness interventions in basketball, enriching sports psychology theory and practice.