Mindfulness contributing to physical activity engagement: evidence from a follow-up study

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial to both physical and mental health, and mindfulness has gained attention due to its potential to promote PA behaviours. However, the underlying processes linking trait mindfulness and PA remain less explored. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between trait mindfulness and self-reported PA, and to examine whether mindfulness in PA, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise commitment play a mediating role in this relationship.

Data were collected from participants at two time points. At baseline, we measured trait mindfulness, mindfulness in PA, exercise self-efficacy, exercise commitment, and PA levels. A follow-up assessment was conducted with a subset of participants to examine the relationships among these variables over time.

Analyses of baseline data indicated that mindfulness in PA, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise commitment played a chain mediating role between trait mindfulness and self-reported PA. These mediating patterns were supported by the follow-up data over time.

Mindfulness in PA, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise commitment may serve as important factors in understanding the link between trait mindfulness and self-reported PA. This finding provides a new direction for developing novel and feasible mindfulness intervention program to promote PA behaviours.