Effect of Yoga-Based Mindfulness Intervention on Blood Cortisol Hormone and Competitive State Anxiety in Boy Skilled Volleyball Players

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

2 M.A. Graduate of Motor Behavior, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22055/psy.2024.45855.3198
Abstract
Aim: Mental health is affected by stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that Yoga-based mindfulness interventions reduce anxiety and improve the performance of athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Yoga-based mindfulness on skilled Volleyball players' blood cortisol hormone levels and competitive state anxiety.
 
Methods: The participants consisted of 28 boy Volleyball players that randomly divided into experimental (M age = 17.71 ±0.91 y, M experience = 4.64 ± 0.84 y) and control (M age = 17.93 ±0.61 y, M experience = 4.71 ± 1.13 y) groups. Subjects completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-R2), and blood samples were also taken to measure cortisol hormone in the pre and post-test phase 30 minutes before a Volleyball match. The experimental group then participated in a Yoga-based mindfulness intervention for 12 sessions (each session 1.5 hours).
 
Results: The covariance analysis showed that Yoga-based mindfulness exercises caused significantly lower blood cortisol levels (p = 0.01), cognitive anxiety (p = 0.003), and somatic anxiety (p=0.0001) in the experimental group than the control group in the post-test. However, it did not significantly affect self-confidence (p=0.69) (p <0.05).
 
Conclusion: The present study suggested that sports psychologists and coaches can use Yoga-Based mindfulness intervention to improve cortisol levels and cognitive and somatic anxiety.

Keywords


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Volume 31, Special Issue
December 2024
Pages 41-52

  • Receive Date 15 January 2024
  • Revise Date 05 May 2024
  • Accept Date 20 May 2024