## 4 Discussion  
The present study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of a single, brief, 10-min mindfulness practice on performance, self-efficacy, task appraisal, and psychophysiological responses within a self-competition protocol. This study was motivated by the growing interest in mindfulness over recent decades, especially for its potential benefits in personal growth and in professions that face high demands, characteristics also found in competitive contexts, such as teaching and healthcare, where professionals report increased levels of burnout and stress, compromising both well-being and the quality of care [7, 8, 9, 11]. While much research has focused on long-duration mindfulness programs, relatively less attention has been devoted to the potential benefits of brief mindfulness practices [14, 23, 24, 29, 65, 66]. Our hypothesis posited that a short mindfulness session would enhance participants' subjective attention and awareness, fostering an immediate increase in present-moment awareness. Results indicated that participants in the brief mindfulness group demonstrated heightened awareness of their emotions, physical sensations, and attention to the present moment, as reflected by their scores on the brief mindfulness scale. These findings are consistent with prior research suggesting that mindfulness practices can promote immediate shifts in awareness and attention [14, 23, 24, 29, 37, 67]. This heightened mindfulness state is often associated with improved emotional self-regulation, a stronger sense of control, and increased confidence [14, 23, 37, 68]. In line with our secondary hypothesis, brief mindfulness group participants exhibited superior performance on a second task compared to the control group, suggesting that even short mindfulness practices can positively affect attention skills and higher-order cognitive processes. These improvements may translate into better adaptability and task performance [29, 34]. Moreover, the brief mindfulness group reported higher self-efficacy -- reflected in increased confidence and perceived importance -- when facing the second task. Self-efficacy is closely linked to performance outcomes [30, 31], and our findings suggest that brief mindfulness practices may enhance participants' confidence and preparedness for upcoming tasks. This aligns with research connecting mindfulness with heightened neuroendocrine responses and improved task adaptation under competitive conditions [69]. Brief mindfulness participants reported feeling more prepared and adaptable, able to effectively nava \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**T1**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Intervention**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**T1**} \\  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**M (SD)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**M (SD)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**M (SD)**} \\ \cline{2-7}  & **EG** & **CG** & **CG** & **CG** & **EG** & **CG** \\ \hline
**EDA\({}_{\text{mean}}\)** & 1.22 (0.17) & 1.15 (0.16) & 1.05 (0.25) ** & 1.08 (0.22) & 1.30 (0.15) * & 1.22 (0.16) \\ \hline
**Cardiovascular parameters** & & & & & \\ R-R Interval & 680.93 & 688.59 & 750.11 & 759 (124.34) & 690.91 & 688.88 \\  & (149.61) & (96.10) & (118.64) & 759 (124.34) & (142.96) & (87.24) \\ HR & 92.67 (18.86) & 89.37 (12.75) & 82.50 (12.23) & 81.38 (12.47) & 90.80 (17.79) & 88.96 (11.12) \\ LF & 61.62 (15.06) & 60.69 (15.50) & 68.57 (16.05) & 64.40 (17.85) & 65.57 (16.79) & 63.87 (13.70) \\ HF & 38.25 (15.00) & 39.16 (15.52) & 31.34 (16.01) & 35.54 (17.84) & 34.12 (16.54) & 35.84 (13.56) \\ LF/HF & 2.06 (1.33) & 2.32 (2.57) & 3.79 (3.86) & 2.80 (2.54) & 2.47 (1.29) & 2.62 (2.83) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} Note: EDA\({}_{\text{mean}}\) and Cardiovascular parameters (R-R Interval, HR, LF, HF, and LF/HF) are represented as M and SD. Differences between condition groups (EG and CG) were calculated by repeated measures ANOVA analyses. The EDA\({}_{\text{mean}}\) variable was transformed using log10. * \(p\) < 0.05, ** \(p\) < 0.01.  
\end{table}