A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial to Enhance Well-Being and Performance of Athletes in Para Sports

Existing mindfulness and acceptance-commitment programs in elite sport have ignored elite athletes with a physical disability. A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to determine if an eight-session mindfulness-acceptance-commitment program delivered within a motivational interviewing framework would enhance well-being in Para-Sport athletes. Eighteen Para-Sport athletes were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 9) or waitlist control (n = 9) groups, with the intervention group attending eight 60-minute face-to-face individual sessions. Analysis of covariance showed statistically significant improvements in the primary outcomes of satisfaction with life (subjective well-being), personal growth, positive relation with others (psychological well-being) with large effect sizes (i.e., partial eta squared range = .23 to .30). Significant improvements for secondary outcomes were observed for a reduction in perceptions of pain (physical well-being). Although not statistically significant, moderate to large effect sizes in favour of the intervention group were also seen for multiple domains of subjective and psychological well-being. No significant or practically meaningful effect sizes were seen for social well-being. This trial provides some preliminary evidence that combining mindfulness-acceptance interventions with motivational interviewing can result in meaningful well-being improvements. Future research is needed to confirm the efficacy of this approach in adequately powered sample sizes.