Objectives:

To compare the effectiveness of training cognitive-behavioral strategies and interventions based on mindfulness in the competitive stress of snipers (ie, salivary cortisol level) with two-month follow-up.

Methods:

Twenty-four young male professional snipers with a history of shooting for at least 3 years were randomly divided into three groups: cognitive-behavioral intervention (n = 8), intervention based on mindfulness (n = 8) and group of control (n = 8). Participants in the experimental groups participated in six training sessions over six weeks (75-90 minutes each session). The concentration of salivary cortisol was measured at rest, pre and post-test and follow-up.

Results:

ANOVA with repeated measures showed a main effect for the group (F2.21 = 3.787, sig = 0.039) and stage (F3.21 = 52.529, sig = 0.001) and also the interactive effect between the groups in the stage (F6, 42 = 3.700, sig = 0.005). Repeated measures ANOVA showed that the cognitive-behavioral intervention at the level of salivary cortisol had an effect on the post-test, while the mindfulness intervention had positive effects on the post-test and follow-up times. There was no significant difference between the mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral groups in the post-test. In addition, the results of the follow-up time showed that there was a significant difference only between mindfulness and the control group.

Practical Applications:

The results indicate that the practice of psychological skills, especially mindfulness, can be used to reduce pre-competition stress.