The association between mindfulness and mental health outcomes in athletes: testing the mediating role of autonomy satisfaction as a core psychological need

Mindfulness may improve well-being through increasing one's ability to self-regulate stressors, which are common and multifaceted among the student-athlete population. However, the mechanisms for influencing such effects lack a theoretical basis. Therefore, we sought to (i) determine the relationship between mindfulness, well-being and stress in student-athletes, and (ii) assess the mediating role of autonomy satisfaction, an innate psychological need required for optimal well-being according to Self-Determination Theory. This was a cross-sectional study of 240 student-athletes (aged 20.5; SD = 3.29; 53.7% males). Mindfulness and autonomy were regressed onto well-being (Model 1) and stress (Model 2) in multivariate regression models assessing direct and indirect mediating mechanisms. More than a third of athletes scored low on well-being, and only 3% high, and a significant proportion of variance was explained in both models (Model 1: R-2 = .40; Model 2: R-2 = .37). Mindfulness directly predicted autonomy satisfaction (beta = .42, p < .001), well-being (beta = .26, p < .001), and stress (beta = -.21, p < .001). Autonomy satisfaction also directly predicted well-being (beta = .47; p < .001) and stress (beta = -.48; p < .001), whilst partially mediating the association between mindfulness and well-being (indirect beta = .19) and stress (indirect beta = -.20). To conclude, mindfulness may improve well-being and reduce stress through increasing athletes' capacity to self-regulate, satisfying the psychological need for autonomy. Future research may consider designing a controlled trial of mindfulness interventions for student-athletes, underpinned and tested using SDT.