Let's Pucking Go: A Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Commitment (MAC) Team-based Training Intervention for Female Youth Hockey

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Organization Development & Change (D.O.D.C.)

Department

Organization Development

First Advisor

William O'Brien (Committee Chair)

Second Advisor

Haeseen Park (Committee Member)

Third Advisor

Jeanelle Sears (Committee Member)

Fourth Advisor

Dryw Dworsky (Other)

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects, acceptability, and feasibility of a Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Commitment (MAC) intervention for adolescent competitive female hockey players delivered at the team level. This study used a quasi-experimental design to assess the MAC team intervention using pre- and post-measures of psychological flexibility and grit compared with a control team. Quantitative analysis showed near-significant, values-aligned behaviour in the MAC team, as measured by the hockey-specific Values, Acceptance, and Mindfulness (VAMS) scale. Qualitative feedback supported the strong quantitative findings on acceptability and feasibility (AIM, IAM, FIM). Athletes reported perceived impact on their ability to self-regulate, improved focus, quality of effort, and team cohesion. Findings position MAC as a promising framework for supporting psychological flexibility, thereby improving performance in competitive adolescent female hockey.

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