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VALIDATION OF THE POLISH VERSION OF MINDFUL ATTENTION AWARENESS SCALE

Walidacja Skali Świadomej Obecności

Author(s): Stanisław Radoń / Language(s): / Issue: 1/2014

Keywords: mindfulness; Mindful Attention Awareness Scale

Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly being used in various populations to reduce psychological afflictions and improve the well-being. However, there is lack of a validated mindfulness measurement in the Polish language. In this study the English version of 15-item of Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS - Brown, Ryan, 2003) was validated. The psychometric properties of the Polish version were assessed on a sample of 410 people (128 young, artistically gifted people 15-19 y.o. and 282 students 20-50 y.o.). The construct validity was examined with the reliability analysis, the confirmatory factor analyses (1 and 2-factor model) and by relating the polish version of MAAS to some others measures of psychological symptoms: neuroticism, emotional stability, integrity, rumination, openness to experience, extraversion, reflection and personality disorders. The results confirmed the reliability of the Polish version of MAAS (Alfa-Cronbach = 0,81-0,85; stability: r = 0,81-0,91) for people 15-50 y.o. and its validity: 2-factor model for 15-19 y.o. (χ2 = 1,25; GFI = 0,93; AGFI = 0,89; CFI = 0,91; RMSEA = 0,04 [0,02-0,06]; PCLOSE = 0,88) and 1-factor for 20-50 y.o (χ2 = 1,31; GFI = 0,91; AGFI = 0,89; CFI = 0,92; RMSEA = 0,05 [0,02-0,07]; PCLOSE = 0,49). The measurements still have to be verified on a sample of people who meditate on regular basis and on a sample of patients receiving psychological help.

Reward reactivity and dark flow in slot-machine gambling: “Light” and “dark” routes to enjoyment

Reward reactivity and dark flow in slot-machine gambling: “Light” and “dark” routes to enjoyment

Author(s): Mike J. Dixon,Jeffrey Gutierrez,Chanel J. Larche,Madison Stange,Candice Graydon,Tyler B. Kruger,Stephen D. Smith / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2019

Keywords: mindfulness; depression; dark flow; mind-wandering; gambling

Background and aims. Slot machines are a very popular form of gambling. In this study, we look at two different routes to enjoying slots play. One route involves the degree to which players react to rewards. The other route involves what we call dark flow – a pleasurable, but maladaptive state where players become completely engrossed in slots play, providing an escape from the depressing thoughts that characterize their everyday lives. Methods. One hundred and twenty-nine high-frequency slots players were tested on slot-machine simulators set up in the lobby of a casino. We measured reward reactivity using post-reinforcement pauses (PRPs) and the force with which players pressed the spin button following different slot-machine outcomes. For each player, we calculated the slopes of PRPs and force as a function of credit gains. We also assessed players’ slots game enjoyment and their experience of dark flow, depression, and problem gambling. Results. Both the PRP and the force measures of reward reactivity were significantly correlated with players’ enjoyment of the slots session, but neither measure was correlated with either problem gambling or depression. Ratings of dark flow were strongly correlated with slots enjoyment (which accounted for far more positive affect variance than the reward reactivity measures) and were correlated with both problem gambling scores and depression. Discussion and conclusions. Our results suggest that of these two routes to enjoying slot-machine play, the dark flow route is especially problematic. We contend that the dark flow state may be enjoyable because it provides escape from the negative thoughts linked to depression.

Between Commiseration and Compassion. On Mindful Reading of the World that Can no Longer be Captured through Postcolonial Lens

Między litością a współodczuwaniem. O uważnym czytaniu świata, który już nie zawsze daje się uchwycić w postkolonialnych kategoriach

Author(s): Ewa ŁUKASZYK / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2019

Keywords: mindfulness; postcolonial studies; World Literature; paradigms in literary studies;

This contribution establishes a dialogue with the essay of Katarzyna Mroczkowska-Brand and her proposal of “mindful reading.” The author adds some further comments concerning the notion of mindfulness, getting back to the Buddhist origin of the term. She also criticizes Mroczkowska-Brand’s readiness to speak of postcolonial studies Anno Domini 2020. Quite to the contrary, the author points at the exhaustion of typically postcolonial paradigms in such a rapidly changing world as ours. The persistence of postcolonial mentalities is often treated as a factor of stagnation, just like the eternal return to the Sykes–Picot agreement, shown as quite unfortunate in Fouad Laroui’s novel, Ce vain combat que tu livres au monde. Other examples brought forth as the exemplification of “post-postcolonial” changes in the contemporary world are two novels of Tsitsi Dangarembga, the writings of the Malay intellectual Farish Noor, the city chronicles of Kalaf Epalanga, as well as some texts from Guinea-Bissau (Andrea Fernandes, Tony Tcheka).

Using deliberate mind-wandering to escape negative mood states: Implications for gambling to escape

Using deliberate mind-wandering to escape negative mood states: Implications for gambling to escape

Author(s): Tyler B. Kruger,Mike J. Dixon,Candice Graydon,Madison Stange,Chanel J. Larche,Stephen D. Smith,Daniel Smilek / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2020

Keywords: mindfulness; depression; dark flow; mind-wandering; gambling

Background and aims: Slot machines are a pervasive form of gambling in North America. Some gamblers describe entering “the slot machine zone”—a complete immersion into slots play to the exclusion of all else. Methods: We assessed 111 gamblers for mindfulness (using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)), gambling problems (using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)), depressive symptoms (using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), and boredom proneness (using the Boredom Proneness Scale). In a counterbalanced order, participants played a slot machine simulator and completed an auditory vigilance task. During each task, participants were interrupted with thought probes to assess whether they were: on-task, spontaneously mind-wandering, or deliberately mind-wandering. After completing each task, we retrospectively assessed flow and affect. Compared to the more exciting slots play, we propose that gamblers may use deliberate mind-wandering as a maladaptive means to regulate affect during a repetitive vigilance task. Results: Our key results were that gamblers reported greater negative affect following the vigilance task (when compared to slots) and greater positive affect following slots play (when compared to the vigilance task). We also found that those who scored higher in problem gambling were more likely to use deliberate mind-wandering as a means to cope with negative affect during the vigilance task. Using hierarchical multiple regression, we found that the number of “deliberately mind-wandering” responses accounted for unique variance when predicting problem gambling severity (over and above depression, mindfulness, and boredom proneness). Conclusions: These assessments highlight a potential coping mechanism used by problem gamblers in order to deal with negative affect.

Benda, J. Mindfulness and compassion

Benda, J. Všímavost a soucit se sebou

Author(s): Šimon Grimmich / Language(s): Czech / Issue: 2/2019

Book review on Benda, J. Všímavost a soucit se sebou. Praha, Portál 2019.

“The Mindful Revolution”: Technicized Souls and Extraction of Labor Power

“Rewolucja uważności”: stechnicyzowane dusze i ekstrakcja siły roboczej

Author(s): Tomasz Jativa / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 42/2021

Keywords: mindfulness; neoliberalism; biopolitics; Horkheimer;Foucault;

The article is an attempt at a philosophical analysis of the phenomenon of the “mindful revolution” using Max Horkheimer’s concept of instrumentalization of reason and Michel Foucault’s notion of biopolitics, as well as findings of Ronald Purser. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between the discourse of mindfulness and Buddhism and neuroscience. According to the thesis of the article, mindfulness is recognized as a technology of power for capturing the affects resulting from functioning within the neoliberal economy and producing a form of subjectivity that captures its emotionality in accordance with the principles of economic rationality.

Augmented Reality in the Poetry of Jane Hirshfield and Essays by Jolanta Brach-Czaina

Codzienność rozszerzona w poezji Jane Hirshfield i esejach Jolanty Brach-Czainy

Author(s): Joanna Roszak / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2022

Keywords: Jane Hirshfield;Jolanta Brach-Czaina;mindfulness;essay;epiphanies of everyday life;

The author is interested in the mutual illumination of Jane Hirshfield’s poetry and Jolanta Brach-Czaina’s philosophical essay. The poems of the American woman and Szczeliny istnienia are set in the stream of mindfulness, and become ways of cognition for the readers. Both authors deal with registers of everyday life that constitute the essence of experience, and write about them in a language that is far from cold. This restructuring on the part of the reader can lead to poetic therapy and epiphanies of everyday life.

The effect of mindfulness and ego stength on job satisfaction in healthcare organizations

Sağlık örgütlerinde bilinçli farkındalık ve ego sağlamlığının iş tatminine etkisi

Author(s): Haydar Baki Doğan / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: Mindfulness; Ego Strength; Job Satisfaction; Health Organizations;

Healthcare Organizations, which are in the crucible of ruthless complexities, unforgiving pressures and continuous transformation due to service offerings that directly affect human health, are obliged to ensure continuous job satisfaction of their employees and, accordingly, to retain their employees. Considering that the potential problems of employees in health organizations will directly affect the service provided and thus human health, it is necessary to prevent the dissatisfaction problems of human resources related to their jobs. Based on this point, this study aims to determine the effect of mindfulness and ego strength on job satisfaction of healthcare professionals. Within the scope of the research, 456 healthcare professionals working in public and private hospitals in Istanbul were selected as a sample. The data were evaluated by using regression analysis through SPSS 22.00. According to the findings of the study, mindfulness and ego strength increase job satisfaction. This finding reveals that by effectively managing mindfulness interventions in health organizations and determining strategies to increase ego strength, employees with high satisfaction will be positioned in the organization and accordingly, the quality of health services that will directly affect human health will increase.

Mindfulness to Calibrate Behavior and Emotions in Children, Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Mindfulness to Calibrate Behavior and Emotions in Children, Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Author(s): Săndica Ion / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2023

Keywords: autism; mindfulness; self-acceptance; emotions; stress; anxiety; social communication; behavior; integration;

The research on literature in this article suggests that mindfulness is effective in reducing anxiety, depression, aggression, stress, rumination and increasing self-acceptance, positive state of well-being in children, adolescents and adults with ASD. Therefore mindfulness programs and tools could provide real help for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum to calibrate their behavior and emotions, but also for their families to reduce stress. It is proved that mindfulness technics and tools used on daily basis in general population could change brain’s neuroplasticity and extend the consciousness. The studies in the ASD literature show that children and adolescents did not report significant changes in mindful awareness, but their social communication problems decreased, and their emotional and behavioral functioning improved.

Mindfulness, perfectionism, and professional burnout among specialists in the information technology field

Осознанность, перфекционизм и профессиональное выгорание у специалистов в сфере информационных технологий

Author(s): Jana RACU,Irina MUNTEAN / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1/2024

Keywords: awareness; perfectionism; professional exhaustion; professional burnout

This article examines the relationship between mindfulness and socially prescribed perfectionism with professional burnout among specialists in the information technology field in Moldova, with an emphasis on age and gender differences. The research group consisted of 120 IT professionals: 58% male and 42% female. The analysis showed that there is a significant negative correlation between mindfulness and professional burnout (correlation coefficient -0.649), indicating a decrease in burnout risk with increased levels of mindfulness. At the same time, socially prescribed perfectionism enhances professional burnout, with a positive correlation of 0.391, especially among young men. These results highlight the need to consider psychological factors when developing corporate well-being strategies

Enhancing Foreign Language Enjoyment and Well-Being Through a Mindfulness Based Intervention Program in the Efl High School Classroom - Teacher’s Insights

Enhancing Foreign Language Enjoyment and Well-Being Through a Mindfulness Based Intervention Program in the Efl High School Classroom - Teacher’s Insights

Author(s): Sharon Fayerberger / Language(s): English / Issue: 25/2023

Keywords: EFL teaching and learning; Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE); Mindfulness; Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI);

This paper presents findings from research that aimed to see how a mindfulness-based intervention program in an EFL high school classroom can enhance student’s foreign language enjoyment and well-being. Students from a 10th grade EFL class in a high school in Israel, participated in a mindfulness-based intervention program held during a ninety-minute EFL lesson each week over a period of thirteen weeks. The research employed qualitative methodology to collect and analyze student’s perception of their English studies, their feeling of well-being in the classroom and their foreign language enjoyment. Semi-structured interviews were used for fourteen participants in the program who were interviewed at two points in time: during the program and a week after the program had ended.  Additionally, insights emerging from my teacher’s log, which documented the process of the mindfulness program at the end of each lesson are also discussed and shed light on future pedagogical implications. All of the participants interviewed reported on an increased level of enjoyment and well-being as well as perceiving an improvement in their EFL learning. 

Efficacy of mindfulness-based Taoist embodiment group therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in an integrated community mental health service in Hong Kong: a preliminary exploration

Efficacy of mindfulness-based Taoist embodiment group therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in an integrated community mental health service in Hong Kong: a preliminary exploration

Author(s): Chui Chow Yin / Language(s): English / Issue: 11/2024

Keywords: taoist psychotherapy; philosophical counseling; stress; anxiety; depression; mindfulness;

Existing Taoist psychotherapy often feature indoctrination-heavy formats and hierarchical structures, which can undermine the experiential connection to Taoist principles central to their therapeutic value. This mixed-methods study evaluated a novel, 4-week, mindfulness-based, "Embodied Taoism" group therapy intervention, designed to address these limitations, at a government-funded Integrated Community Centers for Mental Wellness in Hong Kong. The program aimed to mitigate depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms, and cultivate cognitive flexibility, interpersonal connectedness, and Taoist principle integration. The majority of the 29 participants, aged 25-78, had diagnosed mental health disorders, while three were suspected cases. Rather than didactic presentation, the intervention employed experiential activities like mindful tea drinking, calligraphy, philodrama and philosophical discussion to facilitate embodied mindfulness practice and promote experiential understanding of the Taoist tenets such as non-interference, flowing with natural order, and “walking two roads”. Quantitative analysis of pre-post assessments (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) and qualitative thematic analysis of participant questionnaires and focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed enhanced personal agency, with participants reporting increased perceived choice and freedom in managing self-concept and interpersonal conflicts. Over two-thirds of the participants experienced clinically significant symptom improvements. Researchers posit the therapists' flexible, non-dogmatic Taoism presentation and emphasis on embodiment of the philosophy facilitated outcomes by enhancing cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, and interpersonal connection. These preliminary findings suggest that an embodied, experiential approach to Taoist psychotherapy may hold promise for improving mental health. Further research is warranted to replicate and elucidate the intervention's mechanisms and long-term impact.

Mindfulness, Meaning of Life, and Spiritual Resources in Generation Z

Z Kuşağında Bilinçli Farkındalık, Yaşamın Anlamı ve Mânevî Kaynaklar

Author(s): Emine Bayrak,Sema Eryücel / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 61/2024

Keywords: Psychology of Religion; Generation Z; Conscious Awareness; Meaning of Life; Spiritual Resources;

The concept of generation is defined as a peer group formed by society within the same time period. Studies on generational differences identify Generation Z as those born in the year 1995 and afterwards. Mindfulness refers to paying attention to what is happening here and now without judgment and accepting the experience as it is. The meaning of life is defined as the meaning of an individual's existence and the search for meaning. Spirituality is a spiritual quest process in which an individual discovers new ways to understand and connect with the sacred throughout life. The study aims to examine the relationship between the meaning of life, mindfulness, and spiritual resources, which are associated with many positive psychological variables in Generation Z, known as the technology generation. The participants of the study were 500 students randomly selected from those studying at Akdeniz University. In the study, the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, developed by Brown and Ryan and adapted to Turkish by Özyeşil, Arslan, Kesici, and Deniz, was used to measure the level of mindful awareness. For the variable of meaning of life, the Meaning in Life Scale developed by Steger and colleagues and adapted to Turkish by Yarar was preferred. Finally, for the variable of spiritual resources, the Spiritual Resources Scale developed by Westbrook and colleagues and adapted to Turkish by Ekşi and colleagues was utilized. The statistical analysis of the data was performed with SPSS 26. According to research findings, a significant positive relationship has been found between mindfulness, meaning of life, and spiritual resources.

Mindfulness-based Mode Deactivation Therapy for Adolescents with Behavioral Problems and Complex Comorbidity: Concepts in a Nutshell and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Mindfulness-based Mode Deactivation Therapy for Adolescents with Behavioral Problems and Complex Comorbidity: Concepts in a Nutshell and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Author(s): Joan Swart,David Winters,Jack Apsche / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2014

Keywords: mode deactivation; schema; cognitive behavioral therapy; conduct disorder; adolescent behavioral problems; mindfulness; acceptance; defusion; adolescent suicide

Mindfulness-based Mode Deactivation Therapy (MDT) was conceptualized on the principles of cognitive theory for adolescents with behavioral problems and complex comorbid disorders. The theory and methodology addresses many of the shortcomings that were experienced in treating this population with available therapy approaches. As a systematic, manualized, and contextual treatment, MDT incorporates selected elements from approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), together with the unique Validation-Clarification-Redirection (VCR) change technique. Numerous empirical research studies have established MDT as an effective treatment for adolescents that consistently outperform alternative interventions. A cost-benefit analysis illustrates that MDT is also a cost-effective treatment, potentially saving between four and nine dollars in consequential behavioral costs for every dollar spent on the residential treatment of an adolescent. Therefore, there is ample evidence that Mode Deactivation Therapy (MDT) is a third wave therapy with potential to become the preferred intervention for this population. The objective of this article is to present a condensed summary of this evidence, together with a brief overview of the concepts and principles that constitute the MDT theory and methodology.

Is decreasing problematic mobile phone use a pathway for alleviating adolescent depression and sleep disorders? A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of an eight-session mindfulness-based intervention

Is decreasing problematic mobile phone use a pathway for alleviating adolescent depression and sleep disorders? A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of an eight-session mindfulness-based intervention

Author(s): QINGQI LIU,XIUJUAN YANG,CHENYAN ZHANG,Jie XIONG / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2024

Keywords: mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; mindfulness; problematic mobile phone use; depression; sleep disorders; adolescents;

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention in reducing problematic mobile phone use, depression, and sleep disorders among adolescents. Additionally, it sought to investigate whether the decrease in problematic mobile phone use acted as a mediator in the relationship between the MBCT intervention and adolescent depression and sleep disorders. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, a total of 104 adolescents were randomly assigned to the mindfulness group (n 5 52) or the wait-list control group (n 5 52). The mindfulness group students completed eight 45-min sessions of mindfulness training in four weeks. The outcomes were measured at baseline, postintervention, and at the 2-month follow-up. Results: Compared with the control group, the mindfulness group had significantly greater levels of mindfulness and lower levels of problematic mobile phone use, depression, and sleep disorders postintervention. The intervention effects were maintained at the 2-month follow-up. In addition, decreased problematic mobile phone use significantly mediated the association between the MBCT intervention and decreased depression and decreased sleep disorders. Conclusion: The findings suggest that MBCT could improve adolescent depression and sleep disorders and that decreasing problematic mobile phone use is an effective pathway accounting for the MBCT intervention effect on adolescent depression and sleep disorders.

Polish adaptation and validation of mindfulness scale CAMS-R

Polska adaptacja i walidacja narzędzia do pomiaru uważności CAMS-R

Author(s): AGATA DĘBEK / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2024

Keywords: cultural adaptation; mindfulness; test validation;

The article presents the Polish adaptation and validation of the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R). The history and evolution of the concept of mindfulness is described. The theoretical underpinnings of the tool, operational definitions of mindfulness, and the relationship of mindfulness to other theoretical constructs are presented. After discussing the methodology of the tool's adaptation and validation process, the psychometric properties of the adapted version of the scale obtained during piloting are presented.

The use of mindfulness in the field of education and rehabilitation

Primjena mindfulnessa u području edukacijske rehabilitacije

Author(s): Renata Martinec,Dora Domić,Damir Miholić / Language(s): English,Croatian / Issue: 2/2024

Keywords: education; rehabilitation; mindfulness; effectiveness;

Mindfulness is the practise of being attentive, i.e., being aware of what is going on in the present moment in our mind, body, and external environment with an attitude of acceptance, non-judgment, kindness, and openness. Several studies in the fields of medicine, psychology, neuroscience, and other related disciplines have suggested that the use of mindfulness programmes and techniques can have numerous benefits for various user groups such as inducing psychophysical homeostasis, improving emotional selfregulation, and maintaining successful social relationships. Based on these findings, the aim of this study was to review and analyse the results of previous research on the possibilities and effectiveness of using mindfulness in the field of education and rehabilitation in relation to the following user groups: 1) children with developmental disorders/ people with disabilities, 2) parents, and 3) professionals of various disciplines involved in the process of education and rehabilitation. The results of recent research that was included in our literature review indicate the positive effects of mindfulness on physical, psycho-emotional, and social dimensions based on changes in neurological and endocrinological status, as well as autonomic nervous system activities. Changes were also reflected in self-experience, quality of interpersonal relationships, levels of perceived stress, as well as the techniques and coping strategies used to deal with adverse life situations. In addition, the need for further scientific and applied research was identified, which can contribute to facilitating the effective use of mindfulness in the field of education and rehabilitation.

Moderated mediation between consumer mindfulness and impulse buying: role of self esteem, gender, and marital status

Moderated mediation between consumer mindfulness and impulse buying: role of self esteem, gender, and marital status

Author(s): Ella Mittal,Tamanna Rani / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2024

Keywords: Consumers; Gender; Impulse Buying; Mindfulness; Self-esteem;

Mindfulness improves awareness of negative feelings without judgment or reaction, which reduces the desire to impulse buy or avoid these feelings. The current study highlights the positive effects of mindfulness on selfesteem as a potential means of mitigating impulsive behavior. Therefore, this study examines the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between mindfulness and impulse buying. This study additionally examines the role of gender and marital status as moderators to investigate the moderated mediation effect. The data for this study was collected from 293 customers in North India using Judgmental sampling technique. The survey data was analyzed using Process macro in SPSS and AMOS. It was found that impulse buying had a significant negative relationship with mindfulness and self-esteem, while mindfulness and self-esteem had a significant positive relationship. In addition, the results showed that self-esteem mediated the relationship between mindfulness and impulse buying in both married and unmarried male and female consumers. While gender had no moderating mediating effect, the moderating mediating effect of marital status was significant. These results represent an important contribution to the existing literature. The implications of the study were discussed in detail.

The associations between mindfulness, metacognition and HbA1c levels among diabetic pregnant patients: A case control study

The associations between mindfulness, metacognition and HbA1c levels among diabetic pregnant patients: A case control study

Author(s): Ceren Gölbaşı,Fikret Poyraz Çökmüş,Lejla Mustoo Başer,Hakan Gölbaşı,Pınar Ünal Aydın,Orkun Aydın / Language(s): English,Serbian / Issue: 2/2025

Keywords: pregnancy; mindfulness; metacognition; glucose abnormalities; gestational diabetes melitus

Pregnancy, due to the diversity of lifestyle changes it leads to, may represent a period characterized by intensified stress. Women of childbearing age are at the highest risk for a number of health difficulties and complications, including glucose abnormalities. Such an occurrence often has a set of complex consequences for both the mother and the newborn. We aimed to examine how mindfulness and metacognition interact with HbA1c levels during pregnancy characterized by Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). One hundred pregnant women with GDM and ninety-eight healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Average blood glucose levels were assessed by HbA1c monitoring. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), DSM-5 Level 2– Anxiety– Adult measure (DSM-5 Anxiety), Five– Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30). A negative correlation was found between HbA1c and FFMQ “Describing” subtest, while a positive correlation was obtained between HbA1c and MCQ-30 “Negative beliefs about uncontrollability and danger” subtest. Multiple linear regression showed an association between Mindfulness Describing subtest and HbA1c as an outcome variable. Findings imply the association between mindfulness on HbA1c during pregnancy period. Mindfulness cultivation seems to be relevant in emotional and cognitive processes in order to minimize negative stress related effects on well– being during pregnancy. Such approach may be beneficial in promoting treatment compliance among pregnant women with diabetes, but also among women experiencing low prenatal well– being.

Considerations on the Influence of Mindfulness and Sports Games on the Performance of Taekwondo Athletes

Considerations on the Influence of Mindfulness and Sports Games on the Performance of Taekwondo Athletes

Author(s): Ioana-Adnana Dumbravu,Beatrice Aurelia Abalașei / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2025

Keywords: taekwondo; mindfulness; stress; anxiety; performance

The research examines the importance of psychological training in preparing taekwondo athletes, proposing innovative methods to enhance their performance through mindfulness techniques and specific training games. The main objective is to improve emotional control, reaction speed, and balance—essential factors for competitive success in contact sports. Given that modern sports involve numerous physical and psychological challenges, the study addresses the need for a holistic training approach that supports both the physical and mental preparation of athletes. To achieve concrete results, a structured six-week program was implemented, with regular training sessions combining mindfulness techniques and games aimed at developing balance and reaction speed, applied to a sample of 30 participants. The mindfulness practices used include the Wheel of Awareness method, which helps athletes enhance focus and reduce anxiety, allowing them to concentrate more effectively under pressure. Additionally, sports-specific games were introduced to increase athlete engagement and motivation, facilitating the development of physical skills in an enjoyable and efficient way. The research’ s findings indicate a reduction in stress and anxiety levels and improvements in balance and reaction speed, demonstrating that the integration of psychological components in training can be a key factor in enhancing athletic performance. The conclusions support the application of an integrated approach to sports training that includes both physical and psychological components to optimize athletes’ potential in competitive settings.