Thesis
French
ID: <
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/37627>
Abstract
This study focuses on the implementation of a mindfulness training program for 15 young elite golfers, aged 17 to 20, from a Quebec-City golf academy. The program spanned over 6 weeks, and included formal and daily meditative practice of approximately 10 minutes with audio support and weekly monitoring of participant progress. The objectives were to assess whether this program increased mindfulness in everyday life and in golf, and to check whether this increase persisted over time. A single-subject A-B multiple-baseline design was used. Golfers were assessed with the French computerized versions of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Mindfulness Inventory for Sport-Golf (MIS-Golf). After establishing a baseline, the assessments were carried out on a weekly basis during the intervention and follow-up phases. The tendency to be mindful in daily life was measured, as well as the 3 dimensions of mindfulness in the specific context of golf: awareness, acceptance and refocusing. Visual inspection of the graphs and four series of mixed-model regression analyses were performed. The results revealed (significant) partial low to moderate evidence supporting the effectiveness of the program regarding mindfulness in everyday life, as well as the "acceptance" dimension of mindfulness in golf. This mindfulness training program is considered to be viable, and its initial results are promising. Future research should optimize some of its qualities and refine the study of the effects of the program.