A 6-Week Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment Intervention to Improve Professional Ballet Dancers' Psychological States...

Area of Science:

• Sports Psychology
• Dance Science
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches are increasingly trialled in professional sports.
• Professional ballet dancers face unique performance and well-being challenges.
• The Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) approach is a tailored intervention for athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of the MAC approach in professional ballet dancers.
• To compare the MAC approach against a relevant education program.
• To assess changes in mindfulness and acceptance levels.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial with 16 professional ballet dancers.
• Intervention groups: MAC approach vs. education program (6 weeks, 1 session/week).
• Outcome measures: Mindfulness Inventory for Sport (MIS), Acceptance Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), and semi-structured interviews.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in questionnaire responses pre- vs. post-intervention.
• No significant differences were observed between the MAC and education groups post-intervention.
• Dancers found sessions valuable but reported challenges in dedicating time for ongoing mindfulness practice.

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness interventions show potential for enhancing professional ballet dancers' well-being.
• Embedding mindfulness practice into dancer and company schedules is crucial for sustained engagement.
• Future research should explore practical integration strategies for mindfulness in elite dance settings.