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Ethics code: IR.IAU.SARI.REC.1405.049
History
Received: 2026/06/4 | Accepted: 2026/06/14
Received: 2026/06/4 | Accepted: 2026/06/14
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1- , shojaei.vahid@iau.ac.ir
Abstract (6 Views)
Aims: The present study examined the effectiveness of an eight-week mindfulness and body awareness program on anxiety and sleep quality among male veteran athletes.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a follow-up assessment and a control group. A total of 60 male veteran athletes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). The experimental group participated in a structured eight-week mindfulness and body awareness program consisting of 16 sessions of 90 minutes each, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to analyze the data.
Findings: The results of ANCOVA indicated that, after controlling for pretest scores, participants in the experimental group showed significantly lower levels of state anxiety and trait anxiety, as well as significantly improved sleep quality, compared with those in the control group (p < .001). Effect sizes were moderate to large for state anxiety (η² = .24), trait anxiety (η² = .22), and sleep quality (η² = .27). Furthermore, the four-week follow-up assessment demonstrated that the intervention effects were maintained over time.
Conclusion: The findings support the effectiveness of mindfulness and body awareness training in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality among male veteran athletes. These results suggest that this approach may serve as a valuable complementary intervention within mental health promotion programs for this population.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a follow-up assessment and a control group. A total of 60 male veteran athletes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). The experimental group participated in a structured eight-week mindfulness and body awareness program consisting of 16 sessions of 90 minutes each, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to analyze the data.
Findings: The results of ANCOVA indicated that, after controlling for pretest scores, participants in the experimental group showed significantly lower levels of state anxiety and trait anxiety, as well as significantly improved sleep quality, compared with those in the control group (p < .001). Effect sizes were moderate to large for state anxiety (η² = .24), trait anxiety (η² = .22), and sleep quality (η² = .27). Furthermore, the four-week follow-up assessment demonstrated that the intervention effects were maintained over time.
Conclusion: The findings support the effectiveness of mindfulness and body awareness training in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality among male veteran athletes. These results suggest that this approach may serve as a valuable complementary intervention within mental health promotion programs for this population.
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