The comparison of imagery training and mindfulness meditation training on competitive anxiety and heart rate variability in university athletes: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to compare the effects of imagery training and mindfulness meditation training on competitive anxiety and heart rate variability in university athletes in Chiangrai, Thailand. Methods 30 university athletes were randomly allocated into three groups: imagery training group, mindfulness meditation training group and control group. The participants in the training group were assigned to attend imagery or mindfulness meditation training for 30 min, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The control group participants received a brochure containing relaxation techniques for stress reduction. Before, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks, the heart rate variability was assessed, and a Thai version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R (CSAI-2R), including somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, and self-confidence subscale, was completed by the participants. We performed two-way repeated measure ANOVA tests to determine the interaction effect of group by time. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05, and Bonferroni-correction post hoc tests was used for multiple comparisons. Results The results revealed that a significant group-time interaction effect of cognitive state anxiety was found in the mindfulness meditation group (p<0.05). Post hoc analysis with Bonferroni-correction adjustment revealed that the cognitive state anxiety in the mindfulness meditation group significantly decreased after 8 weeks of training. Additionally, after 8 weeks of training, the cognitive state anxiety in the mindfulness meditation group was significantly lower than that in the control group. However, there was no significant group-time interaction for somatic state anxiety, self-confidence, or heart rate variability after training. Additionally, both mindfulness meditation and imagery groups showed trends to improve HRV, self-confidence, and decrease somatic state anxiety. Conclusions In conclusion, the results obtained here clearly show that the university athletes benefit from 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation training, which reduces cognitive state anxiety.