The Use of Mindfulness Acceptance Commitment (MAC) Approach For Malaysian Elite Triathletes

Yau, Eugene Koh Boon; Pang, Nicholas Tze Ping; Kuan, Garry

doi:10.1080/21520704.2021.1920522

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Track and field athletes have reported improvements in goal directed energy and perceived stress compared with controls following MAC interventions (Goodman et al, 2004), while other improved or enhanced performance related factors include increased mindfulness skills, non-reactivity to inner experience, increased experiential acceptance, increased ability to take action towards goals, reductions in believability and interference of general unpleasant private events during competitions, and improved goal-directed behaviour (Hasker, 2010, Kettunen &Välimäki, 2014, Ruiz & Luciano, 2012. Finally, athletes have also discussed improved awareness and acceptance of bodily sensations as being important for their performances (Bernier et al, 2009), and improved consistency of training, overall sense of enhanced wellbeing, focus, and values-driven effort (Yau et al, 2021).…”

Section: Mindfulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Olusoga¹,

Yousuf²

2023

Applying Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Approaches in Sport

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Hayes in the 1980s (Hayes & Brownstein, 1986;Zettle & Hayes, 1986), is a psychotherapeutic approach based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT). ACT is based on the principle that attempting to remove, replace, or reduce unwanted thoughts and sensations is a root cause of human suffering. Rather than helping individuals to rid themselves of such unwanted internal experiences (e.g., distressing thoughts or the unwanted physical sensations associated with anxiety), ACT uses acceptance and mindfulness processes, and commitment and behavioural strategies to help clients change the relationship that they have with their internal experiences. Mindfulness-acceptance approaches in sport psychology have become more prevalent since Gardner and Moore (2001) discussed their application to performance contexts. In this chapter, the theoretical underpinning of ACT will be discussed in detail, and a review of the relevant sport psychology literature will be provided. The authors will also provide a hypothetical case-study of an athlete presenting with issues related to confidence and decision making. The case-study is used to explain how ACT can typically be applied in a one-to-one setting, using a hypothetical transcript. Typical exercises, activities, and metaphors that might be used during consultancy are also included. Foundations of ACTAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a 'third-wave' behavioural therapy, based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT: Hayes et al., 2004) and grounded in Functional Contextualism (Hayes et al., 1988). Zettle et al. (2016) provide detail on RFT and Functional Contextualism that goes beyond the scope of this chapter, yet it is important to acknowledge here that ACT has emerged from previous traditions in behavioural psychology.Traditionally, applied sport psychology has drawn mostly from cognitive-behavioural approaches to psychotherapy (Turner et al., 2020). Using psychological 'skills' such as selftalk, imagery, relaxation, and goal-setting, these CBT-based approaches seek to challenge unwanted 'negative' thoughts, emotions, and sensations. Sports performers are taught strategies to help them reduce or eliminate 'faulty' cognitions or undesirable internal experiences in pursuit of an 'ideal' performance state (i.e., no anxiety, high self-confidence, relaxed, and thinking 'positively').ACT, rooted in Functional Contextualism, proposes a different approach in that it is a philosophical approach in which thoughts, feelings, memories, and sensations that we might perceive to be 'negative' are not actually problematic by definition. Instead, it is the way that they function in certain contexts that might be problematic. When an athlete can dispassionately observe a thought as nothing more than a mental event for example (i.e., cognitive defusion), rather than believe the thought within a particular context to be absolute truth (i.e., cognitive fusion), the particular thought is no longer a problem to be eradicated. The thought might still be unpleasant and unwanted, but it does not prevent the athlete...

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Section: Mindfulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Olusoga¹,

Yousuf²

2023

Applying Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Approaches in Sport

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“…With open-hearted acceptance of what is occurring when faced with aversive experience, such as self-doubt and fear, athletes can disengage from negative thinking (that is to say, change their relationships to it) and be freed up to attain optimal performance states, so that athletes are enabled to learn they can reach peak performances despite negative internal states and negative self-evaluations and expectations [ 14 ]. Enhanced performance has been reported after implementing the MAC protocol with different samples of athletes, including female power lifters [ 10 ], professional lacrosse players [ 11 ], semiprofessional football players [ 15 ] and elite triathletes [ 61 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Effects of Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment Training on Self-Compassion and Grit among Elite Female Athletes

Mohebi

Sadeghi-Bahmani

Zarei

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Background: Mindfulness-based interventions are well-established in the field of psychotherapy, and such interventions have also gained increased attention in the field of sport psychology, either to cope with psychological pressure or to improve an athlete’s performance. The goal of the present study was to examine whether a Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment (MAC) program could increase self-compassion and grit among elite female athletes compared to an active control condition. To this end, we performed a randomized trial among female adult athletes. Methods: Forty female adult athletes (Mage = 22.22, SD = 2.40) were randomly assigned either to the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment group (n = 20; 7 group sessions, 60 min each) or the active control group (n = 20; 7 group sessions, 60 min each). At baseline, seven weeks later at the end of the study and again four weeks later at follow-up, participants completed a series of self-rating questionnaires on mindfulness, self-compassion and grit. Results: Dimensions of mindfulness, self-compassion and grit improved over time, but more so in the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment condition compared to the active control condition. Improvements remained stable from the study end to follow-up. Conclusions: While the active control condition improved dimensions of mindfulness, self-compassion and grit among female adult athletes, improvements were much stronger in the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment condition. Importantly, improvements in the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment condition remained stable over a time lapse of four weeks at follow-up after study completion, suggesting that the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment intervention appeared to improve cognitive–emotional learning processes.

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The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Training Program on Selected Psychological Indices and Sports Performance of Sub-Elite Squash Athletes

Wong¹,

How²,

Cheong³

2022

Front. Psychol.

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Mindfulness Acceptance Commitment (MAC) programs have garnered much support in enhancing sport performance through present-moment focus and non-judgmental thoughts. Expanding on previous studies conducted in collegiate and professional settings, the current study investigates the application of MAC amongst national sub-elite athletes. The study was conducted utilizing a single case A-B design, with a total of six sub-elite Malaysian Squash athletes (2 males, 3 females; Mage = 15 ± 2 years) purposively sampled from the Malaysian national squash team. Participants underwent 6 weeks of baseline testing, 7 weeks of program intervention, and a retention test 4 weeks post-intervention. The intervention consisted of psycho-education, centering and cognitive defusion among other aspects as purported in MAC programs. Changes in proficiency of mindful practice was observed through the Mindfulness Awareness Acceptance Scale (MAAS), experiential avoidance through the Acceptance Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), stress levels through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and sport performance through both coach- and self-rated scales. Overall, visual analysis revealed improvements in MAAS levels (M = 1.15 ± 0.15), with no marked changes in AAQ-II (M = –0.002 ± 1.12) and PSS (M = 0.7 ± 0.93) after 7 weeks of intervention. Coach-rated sport performance also improved across the phases (M = 0.86 ± 0.93), with mixed responses for self-rated improvements (M = 0.01 ± 1.19). Overall, the benefits of MAC program were well-maintained past the post-intervention phase. The current study supported the implementation of an MAC program for sub-elite athletes in real-world settings.

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The Use of Mindfulness Acceptance Commitment (MAC) Approach For Malaysian Elite Triathletes

Cited by 3 publications

References 11 publications

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Examining the Effects of Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment Training on Self-Compassion and Grit among Elite Female Athletes

The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Training Program on Selected Psychological Indices and Sports Performance of Sub-Elite Squash Athletes

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