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MAIC training reduces psychological stress and improves subjective sleep quality in elite swimmers

An 8-week Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment (MAIC) program embedded in routine high-load training significantly reduced athlete-specific psychological stress and salivary cortisol, and improved subjective sleep quality (PSQI) and mindfulness in elite swimmers compared to usual-practice controls. Improvements in psychological stress and mindfulness persisted at three-month follow-up, while lower cortisol and better sleep quality remained relative to controls.

Last updated: Jul 30, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score42/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Effects of Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment (MAIC) Training on Stress and Sleep Quality in Elite Swimmers: A Randomized Controlled Mixed-Methods Trial.

observational

Su N, Zhang B, Zhou X, Hu J, Liang W, Wang D · Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 8 weeks
Intervention: 8-week Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment (MAIC) program embedded within routine high-load training
Outcome: Athlete-specific psychological stress (Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire), salivary cortisol, subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), mindfulness (Athlete Mindfulness Questionnaire)
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 30 elite swimmers from a provincial high-performance program in China (n=15 per group)

Result:

PubMed: 42510189DOI: 10.3390/bs16071068

Mechanism Graph

Attentional resets
↓
Acceptance-based responses to discomfort
↓
Brief post-session or pre-sleep practices
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Regulation of cognitive reactivity and arousal leading to improved sleep quality

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=30 total)
  • ⚠Single-center study in one Chinese provincial program, limiting generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MAIC training?▼

MAIC stands for Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment, a culturally grounded psychological training program adapted for athletes.

How long did the MAIC intervention last?▼

The intervention lasted 8 weeks, embedded within routine high-load training.

Did the benefits of MAIC persist after the program ended?▼

Yes, improvements in psychological stress and mindfulness remained evident at three-month follow-up relative to baseline, and lower cortisol and better sleep quality remained relative to the control group.

What sleep measure was used?▼

Subjective sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

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References

  1. 1.Su N, Zhang B, Zhou X, Hu J, Liang W, Wang D. "Effects of Mindfulness-Acceptance-Insight-Commitment (MAIC) Training on Stress and Sleep Quality in Elite Swimmers: A Randomized Controlled Mixed-Methods Trial.." Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. PMID: 42510189 DOI: 10.3390/bs16071068
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.