Description of individual studies
| Author and year | Sample | Sport(s) | Level of competition | Mean age | Country | MBP | Control group | Measures | Study quality |
| Aherne et al (2011)57 | Total: 13 MBP=6 C=7 Male: 9 Female: 4 | Rugby, tennis, hockey, athletics | Student elite | 21 | Ireland | Delivery via compact disk - based on MBCT 6 weeks/day individual practice | Wait list | Mindfulness (CAMS-R) | RoB: Moderate RA: 3/4 Int q: 0/3 |
| Ajilchi et al (2021)68 | Total: 42 MBP=21 C=21 Male: 0 Female: 42 | Swimming, badminton, table tennis | Student elite | 21.6 | Iran | MAC 7 weeks, 7 sessions, 45 min each | No intervention | Mindfulness (Mindfulness Inventory for Sport), psychological well-being (Ryff’s scale) | RoB: Moderate RA: 4/4 Int q: 2/3 |
| Carraça et al (2018)70 | Total: 57 MBP=28 C=29 Male: 57 Female: 0 | Football (soccer) | Elite—Professional | 25.8 | Portugal | MBSoccerP (MBSR and MAC adaptation) 8 weeks, 9 sessions, 90–120 min each | Wait list | Anxiety (BSI–subscale), mindfulness (FFMQ), psychological distress (BSI–global) | RoB: High RA: 3/4 Int q: 2/3 |
| Jones et al (2020)59 | Total: 27 MBP=15 C=12 Male: 0 Female: 27 | Rowing | Student elite NCAA Division 1 | 20.5 | USA | MBSR 9 weeks, 8 sessions, 75 min each | No intervention | Anxiety (BAI), depression (BDI2), mindfulness (FFMQ), stress (PSS), psychological well-being (Ryff’s scale) | RoB: Moderate RA: 4/4 Int q: 3/3 |
| Josefsson et al (2019)60 | Total: 69 MBP=36 C=33 Male: 35 Female: 33 | Floorball, golf, football (soccer), cycling, wrestling | Junior elite National to international | 20.9 | Sweden | MAC 7 weeks, 7 sessions, 45 min each | Psychological skills training | Mindfulness (AMQ) | RoB: Moderate RA: 4/4 Int q: 1/3 |
| Kubesia (2017)61 | Total: 12 MBP=6 C=6 Male: 1 Female: 11 | Softball, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Basketball, Swimming, Football (Soccer), Volleyball | Student elite NCAA Division 1 | 20.4 | USA | MAC (adaptation) 5 weeks, 5 sessions, 60 min each | Wait list | Mindfulness (MAAS), stress (PSS) | RoB: Moderate RA: 4/4 Int q: 0/3 |
| Macdougall et al (2019)62 | Total: 18 MBP=9 C=9 Male: 5 Female: 13 | Paralympic: athletics, cycling, swimming, wheelchair basketball and rugby | Paraelite National or above | 32.5 | Australia | MAC 8 weeks, 8 sessions, 45 min each | Wait list | Mindfulness (CAMS-R),psychological well-being (Ryff’s scale), psychological distress (SPANE) | RoB: Moderate RA: 2/4 Int q: 2/3 |
| Mehrsafar et al (2019)63 | Total: 26 MBP=13 C=13 Male: 26 Female: 0 | Wushu | Elite International | 25.4 | Iran | MBSR, MAC, MBCT (adaptations) 8 weeks, 16 sessions, 60 min each | Wait list | Anxiety (CSAI2R), mindfulness (MAAS) | RoB: Moderate RA: 4/4 Int q: 2/3 |
| Moen (2015)64 | Total: 50 MBP=23 C=27 Male: 24 Female: 26 | Biathlon, cross-country, shooting, skiing, athletics | Junior Elite | 18.5 | Norway | MBSR (adaptation) 12 weeks, 4 sessions, 120 min each | No intervention | Mindfulness (MAAS), stress (PSS) | RoB: High RA: 4/4 Int q: 3/3 |
| Naderi et al (2020)65 | Total: 160 MBP=81 C=79 Male: 160 Female: 0 | Football (Soccer) | Junior Elite | 17.1 | Iran | MAC 7 weeks, 7 sessions, 45 min each | Attentional control | Mindfulness (TMS), anxiety (Sport Anxiety Scale 2), psychological distress (K10) | RoB: Moderate RA: 3/4 Int q: 1/3 |
| Norouzi et al (2020)66 | Total: 40 MBP=20 C=20 Male: 40 Female: 0 | Football (soccer) | Elite Former professional | 34.1 | Iran | MBSR 8 weeks, 8 sessions, 90 min each | Non-active control: Meeting to socialise | Anxiety (BAI), depression (MADRS), psychological well-being (Ryff’s scale), stress (PSS) | RoB: Moderate RA: 4/4 Int q: 3/3 |
| Rooks et al (2017)67 | Total: 100 MBP=56 C=44 Male: 100 Female: 0 | American Football | Student elite NCAA Division 1 | 19.8 | USA | MBSR (adaptation) 4 weeks, 4 sessions, 45 min | Relaxation | Anxiety (STAIS), depression (CES-D), psychological well-being and distress (PANAS) | RoB: Moderate RA: 2/4 Int q: 1/3 |
AMQ, Athlete Mindfulness Questionnaire; BAI, Beck Anxiety Inventory; BDI2, Beck Depression Inventory 2; BSI, Brief Symptom Inventory; CAMS-R, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale Revised; CES-D, Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression; CHIME, Comprehensive inventory of mindfulness experiences; CSAI2R, Competitive State Anxiety Inventory 2–Revised; FFMQ, Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire; Int q, intervention quality; K10, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; MAAS, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; MAC, mindful acceptance commitment; MADRS, Montgomery-Asburg depression rating scale; MBCT, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; MBP, mindfulness-based programme; MBSR, mindfulness-based stress reduction; NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association; PANAS, Positive and Negative Affect Scale; PSS, Perceived Stress Scale; RA, researcher allegiance; RoB, risk of bias; SPANE, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience; STAIS, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale; TMS, Toronto Mindfulness Scale.