A sport-specific ACT group intervention for promoting athletes’ mental well-being: a randomized controlled trial

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a sport-specific acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group intervention on mental well-being and stress symptoms in athletes. In this randomized controlled superiority trial (RCT), national level athletes (n = 95; 55% female, 45% male; mean age 19.9 years) were pair-matched and randomly assigned to either an ACT intervention group (INT, n = 49) or a waitlist control group (WLC, n = 46). All the measures were administered pre- and post-intervention, which comprised of six face-to-face group sessions supplemented by home exercises over a 6-week period. Primary outcomes were mental well-being and stress. Other outcomes were experienced recovery, self-esteem, depression symptoms, and psychological flexibility skills. The results show improved mental well-being (d = 0.33, small difference) and reduced stress symptoms (d = 1.13, large difference) in the ACT group compared to the WLC condition between pre- and post-measurement. Also, the ACT group reported increased psychological flexibility (d = 0.31 - 0.53, small to medium difference). Evidence was found that athletes' mental well-being and psychological flexibility skills improved after the brief 6-week ACT group intervention. Our findings indicate that a sport-specific ACT group intervention model might be an effective option for promoting the mental well-being of athletes.