Comparison of the Effects of Psychological Skill Training and Mindfulness Training on Promoting Athletic Performance Under Stress

Objective: According to the theory of challenge and threat states in athletes and Mindfulness-Acceptance-InsightCommitment training, this study was conducted to explore the influence of psychological skill training and mindfulness training on college athletes' athletic performance under stress by using the virtual reality technology. Methods: 120 college athletes were recruited and a 3×3 hybrid design was adopted in this study. The independent variable between group was the psychological training mode(psychological skill training/mindfulness training/no training), and the independent variable within group was time(pre-test/post-test/follow-up test). In addition, the dependent variables were virtual reality shooting task performance/challengethreat state assessment/mindfulness score. Results: After mindfulness training, the athletic performance was increased than before(P=0.065), and the mindfulness level was also increased even when the mindfulness training was withdrawn(P<0.001). The athletes who was trained by psychological training got a higher challenge-threat score(P<0.01). Conclusion: Both psychological skill training and mindfulness training can improve athletes' performance under stress and produce positive psychological benefits.In general, the instant effect of mindfulness is greater, but the long-lasting effect of psychological skill training is better. The findings of this study can be referred when designing athletes' stress coping training.