| Mindfulness during the competitive period: Modulating perceived stress and salivary mucosal immunity in elite wrestlers |
| Paper ID : 1756-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Amir Hossien Mehrsafar * Division of Sport Psychology, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Semnan, Semnan, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Elite wrestlers, in particular, face intense pressure during competition periods, which may dysregulate immune function and heighten perceived stress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as promising tools for enhancing emotional regulation and stress resilience in athletic populations. However, limited research has examined their combined effects on subjective stress and mucosal immune markers—such as salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA)—in high-performance contexts. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an 8-week mindfulness intervention on perceived stress and sIgA levels in elite male wrestlers during the competitive period. Methods: Twenty male elite wrestlers (mean age = 22.36 ± 2.38 years; mean athletic experience = 6.94 ± 1.39 years) were randomly assigned to either an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) group or a wait-list control group. Both groups participated in two official competitions: one at baseline and another following the intervention period. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), while salivary samples were collected at awakening and immediately before competition to measure sIgA concentrations as an indicator of mucosal immunity. Results: Following the 8-week intervention, the MBI group reported a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in sIgA levels—either in awakening or pre-competition samples—between or within groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that mindfulness training can effectively reduce perceived stress in elite wrestlers during high-pressure competitive periods, potentially supporting psychological well-being and mental readiness. Nevertheless, its acute effects on mucosal immune function, as indexed by sIgA, may be limited or require longer intervention durations. Future research should extend these investigations to female athletes, diverse sports, and broader psychophysiological markers—including inflammatory cytokines and cortisol—to better understand the integrative benefits of mindfulness in sport performance and health. |
| Keywords |
| Perceived stress, immunoglobulin A, mindfulness, wrestling |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |
