| Mindfulness and Psychological Processes in Mountaineering: A Pathway to Regulation and Presence |
| Paper ID : 1507-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Giulia Cristoforetti *1, Mahboubeh Ghayour Najafabadi2 1Department of Brain/Mind, Faculty of Sport Psychology, University of Trento, Italy 2Department of Behavior and cognitive sciences in sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Mountaineering represents an intense psychological context where emotional regulation, cognitive control, and self-awareness are continually challenged. Recent reviews on the psychology of mountaineering highlight the importance of mental toughness, metacognitive regulation, and emotion management for both safety and performance (1). Within this framework, mindfulness, defined as purposeful, present-moment awareness (2), emerges as a meaningful construct to explain how mountaineers cope with the cognitive and affective demands of extreme environments. Methods: In the current study, participants were asked to complete measures of mindfulness, regulation and presence before and after participating in an ‘intervention’. The intervention consisted of a mindfulness activity followed by mountaineering versus a physical activity control. A mixed ANOVA revealed that participation in mountaineering increased the measure of mindfulness significantly more than the control activity; however, no significant group differences were found for the measures of regulation and presence. A regression analysis then revealed that group condition of the variance in post-intervention mindfulness levels when controlling for baseline levels of mindfulness. Results: Empirical studies show that engagement in climbing can enhance mindfulness and attentional control (3), while research on mountain athletes underscores emotional regulation and perceived quality of life as key psychological factors (4). Mindfulness can therefore be viewed both as an outcome of mountaineering, arising from sustained attention, bodily awareness, and environmental immersion, and as a motivational factor driving continued participation. Conclusion: Synthesizing recent evidence, this conceptual overview proposes that mindful engagement in mountain environments fosters resilience, self-regulation, and the ability to manage stress and uncertainty. Mindfulness thus offers a valuable lens for understanding the psychological dynamics of mountaineering and the broader human search for balance and presence in demanding natural contexts. |
| Keywords |
| Mindfulness, Mountaineering, Regulation, Presence |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
