Aim of this thesis is to explore the influence of mindfulness training on stress, perceived performance in school and sports as well as athlete burnout in junior elite athletes. The interaction between the variables, degree of mindfulness, perceived stress, perceived performance in school and sports, and degree of burnout was investigated through a survey examination in 382 junior elite athletes. These junior athletes attended 7 different high schools offering elite sports programs in Mid-Norway. Additionally, a 12-week mindfulnesstraining program on 29 junior elite athletes was performed and analyzed qualitatively in order to determine the usefulness of mindfulness training in burnout prevention and performance enhancement in junior elite sports. The results of the quantitative analysis of the interaction of the variables mindfulness, stress, school and sports performance and athletes burnout showed that higher levels of mindfulness are associated with lower levels of stress, higher levels of perceived school- and sports performance, and lower levels of athlete burnout. The mindfulness intervention was shown to have a positive impact on athletes perceived mind stress, resulting in better sleep and feelings of improved recovery. Besides the influence on mind stress and recovery, changes in awareness seem to be the most obvious outcome of the mindfulness intervention. All athletes mentioned they had improved their awareness. Improvements in attention awareness, focus awareness, awareness of inner experiences and awareness of beneficial and nonbeneficial personal choices were mentioned by all athletes. The reduction of perceived mind stress and the improved recovery through better sleep indicates the usefulness of mindfulness training in athlete burnout prevention. The improved awareness might result in better attention abilities that could be important in performance enhancement in both, school and sports.
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