Artificial intelligence in sport psychology: Implications for the identification and development of talent.

Advances in the study of perfectionism in sport.

Why experience fails to foster expertise in athlete selection.

Esports, mental toughness, & resilience: Psychological predictors of performance may fall short.

A letter to my younger self: Understanding talented athletes' experiences of and future recommendations for seeking help for mental health difficulties.

The lack of Filipino sports psychology research and experts underscores the need for this study. This study aims to explore the champion mindsets of elite Filipino athletes by examining the psychological attributes and motivational factors that drive their success. It explores the mental strategies, resilience, and determination shaping athletic excellence, offering insights into their success. Using an exploratory qualitative design, the study analyzed motivational statements drawn from 30 documented sources featuring world-class Filipino athletes. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis was employed to identify recurring patterns across the dataset. The analysis revealed five essential themes: inner strength and resilience, external support and motivation, skill and strategy, dedication and effort, and continuous growth and success. Within inner strength and resilience, four major sub-themes surfaced: resilience and perseverance, mental toughness and preparation, self-belief and confidence, and faith and spirituality. External support and motivation encompassed two core ideas: motivation and support, and national pride and patriotism. Skill and strategy provided two significant concepts: tactical thinking technique and athletic discipline. Dedication and effort stood alone as a single theme. Continuous growth and success were clustered into two themes: growth and improvement, and success and achievement. This study highlights the pivotal roles of psychological qualities and external stimuli, equipping coaches, trainers, sports psychologists, and athletes with a comprehensive framework for enhancing athletic performance and well-being.

Background To investigate how coaching leadership styles influence athletes’ moral conduct, this study explored the direct and indirect effects of democratic and autocratic leadership behaviors on prosocial and antisocial behaviors in sport. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,239 competitive athletes from multiple sports, measuring leadership perception, goal orientation, and moral disengagement. Key results Democratic leadership significantly predicted higher prosocial behavior and lower antisocial tendencies, while autocratic leadership showed the opposite pattern. Implications These effects were mediated by athletes’ task and ego orientation, as well as their level of moral disengagement. The findings highlight the broader relevance of ethical, knowledge-based leadership in cultivating sustainable behavioral outcomes in sports. These results support social cognitive and moral disengagement theory by revealing how internal cognitive-motivational factors transmit leadership influence. The study contributes to both sport psychology and leadership literature by identifying key mediating mechanisms and clarifying the behavioral implications of different leadership approaches. Practically, within the context of Chinese elite sport, the findings suggest that fostering more democratic leadership styles may be associated with more ethical conduct and support athletes’ longer-term development, although cross-cultural and longitudinal research is needed before drawing broader causal conclusions.

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine the level of sociotropic personality among athletes. Sociotropic personality refers to individuals’ tendency to value interpersonal relationships, seek social approval, and desire to be loved and accepted by others. In the scale development process, a literature review was conducted, and a 15-item pool was created. For content validity, expert opinions were obtained from two sports psychology academicians and one linguist, after which necessary revisions were made and approved. A pilot study with 12 athletes confirmed the clarity of the items. The study population consisted of amateur athletes in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, and the sample included athletes from Beylikgücüspor, Beylikdüzü Yakupluspor, and Beylikdüzü Demirspor. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert-type scale. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Cronbach’s Alpha reliability tests were conducted. As a result, a scale with two sub-dimensions and 11 items was developed. The overall Cronbach’s Alpha value of the scale was 0.714, while the reliability coefficients of the sub-dimensions were .866 (physical), .622 (cognitive), and .933 (behavioral).

Sport psychology focuses on the influence of competitive anxiety on performance, despite a paucity of work with athletes in Nepal. The prevalent patterns of sports competition anxiety based on gender, sports type and sporting disciplines are examined in this study. The sample consisted of 496 athletes (281 males and 215 females) who participated in 21 events from the 9th National Games in Pokhara.Competitive anxiety was measured using the Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). Nonparametric statistical techniques were used as the anxiety scores violated normality assumptions. A Mann–Whitney U test indicated male and female athletes did not show statistically significant differences in anxiety (U = 29701.50, p = .749, r = 0.014). However, athletes competing in individual sportsreported significantly higher anxiety than compared to team events (U = 25813, p = .002, r = 0.14). A Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant differences in anxiety across the 21 sports examined (H = 134.87, p < .001, η² = .27). Kabaddi, Kho- Kho and Archery athletes had the highest anxiety levels, while Football, Rugby and Volleyball athletes had the lowest ones. This implies that competitive anxiety in the athletes of Nepal is more affected not by gender but by sport type and sport-specific demands. The findings emphasize the requirement for targeted psychological assistance, especially for individual and precision-based sportsmen.

Introduction: This study focuses on the adaptation and validation of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire-Short (AEQ-S) to the Spanish sports context. Emotions play a crucial role in athletes’ decision making, making it essential to have reliable assessment tools tailored to this field. Method: The AEQ-S was administered to 998 professional athletes (mean age: 26.83 years). The adaptation followed the Hambleton method and involved the support of sports psychologists. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted, along with tests for reliability and criterion validity. Results: The analyses confirmed that the factor structure of the AEQ-S in sports aligns with the original version, identifying eight key emotions: enjoyment, hope, pride, anxiety, anger, shame, hopelessness, and boredom. Furthermore, positive emotions were positively associated with resilience, while negative emotions showed an inverse relationship. Conclusions: The adapted AEQ-S proved to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing emotions in athletes. Its applications extend to both research and professional practice in the sports domain.

As an innovative form integrating nature, sports and education, outdoor camp education has significant value for the all-round development of young people. However, adolescents face multiple psychological challenges such as motivation, emotion and social interaction during participation. Based on the theoretical framework of sports psychology, this study systematically analyzes four major common psychological problems of young people in camps—low participation willingness, weak self-regulation, excessive competition and difficult interpersonal adaptation—through on-site investigations and interviews at Fosun Tourism & Culture Mini-Camp. On this basis, the study constructs a four-dimensional optimization strategy system including motivation stimulation, self-regulation improvement, sports spirit shaping and social adaptation promotion, and proposes an integrated implementation model and effect evaluation plan covering the pre-camp, in-camp and post-camp stages. This research aims to promote the in-depth integration of sports psychology and camp education, and provide theoretical reference and practical model for the professional development of the industry.

Relevance. The article provides an essential overview of sports phygitalogy, a new scientific field that combines sports science, digital pedagogy, cyber-pedagogy, phygital pedagogy and psychology. It is based on the theory of human cybersocialization, which explains the emergence of Homo sapiens cyberus, a person socialized in cyberspace. This has led to the formation of Homo sapiens phygitalis, a rational human being who is socialized in both the physical and virtual worlds. Sports phygitalogy studies the development of sports in the context of this convergence, exploring the patterns, principles, and technologies that shape modern sports. It aims to understand how sports are influenced by the digital and virtual world, and how this impacts athletes, coaches, and fans. The subject and object of sports digitalology, its methodological principles, and its socio-pedagogical significance in the context of digitalization of sports activities are defined. Methods and research organization. The study used a retrospective analysis of scientific articles from the scientific electronic library Elibrary.ru, using the following queries: “phygital”, “phygitology”, “phygitalogy”, “sports phygitology”, and ‘sports phygitalogy”. The research also employed methods such as induction, deduction, abstraction, synthesis, and generalization; as well as pedagogical modeling and design methods. Results. The article discusses the author’s idea of sports phygitalogy, which is a system of knowledge about phygital sports and their role in the development of the individuals and society. It outlines the subject, object, main sections, principles, and immediate research prospects of sports phygitalogy. The author provides definitions for terms such as “sports phygitalogy”, “sports phygital psychology”, “sports phygital pedagogy”, “ethnophygitalogy”, and “sports ethnophygitalogy”. Conclusion. Sports phygitalogy is a theoretical discipline that also acts as a practical mechanism for ensuring the sustainable development of sports in today’s world, where the physical and digital realms are converging. This field has the potential to influence the way we think about the values, technologies, and social aspects of modern sports on a systemic level.

ABSTRACT This commentary, written from the International Society of Sport Psychology’s societal (ISSP) perspective, calls for a broader, culturally grounded understanding of elite athlete mental health (AMH) that transcends biomedical and performance-based paradigms. It is proposed that while evidence-based models have advanced mental health literacy and intervention, they often underrepresent the sociocultural, moral, and relational contexts that shape athletes’ lived experiences of wellbeing. Drawing from Western, Eastern, and Indigenous epistemologies, AMH is conceptualised as a dynamic and contextually embedded process rather than an individual clinical state. By fostering a global dialogue grounded in cultural humility and ethical reflexivity, AMH is envisioned as not merely the absence of illness but the presence of human flourishing, an aspiration linking athletic excellence with the collective good.

Coaching is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool in health professions education (HPE), supporting learning, performance, and well-being. Yet, the term 'coaching' is used inconsistently, leading to confusion and limiting its potential impact. In this cross-cutting edge article, the authors draw upon a framework from the sport psychology and organisational development literatures to outline three distinct generations of coaching that can guide HPE away from treating coaching as a unitary construct. In doing so, we strive to clarify coaching's varied purposes and paradigms. Generation 1 emphasises performance management, focusing on goal-setting and problem-solving. Generation 2 shifts towards personal development, leveraging strengths and fostering long-term growth. Generation 3 centers on meaning-making and cultural transformation, prioritising values, identity and reflective dialogue. The authors argue that each generation offers unique benefits and limitations and that coaching in HPE should be deliberately aligned with the learner's context and goals. Through examples from clinical education, they illustrate how different coaching approaches can support technical skill development, professional identity formation and well-being. Rather than advocating for a single model, the article encourages educators to adopt a flexible, context-sensitive approach to coaching. By understanding the generational distinctions, HPE professionals can better tailor coaching interventions to meet learners' evolving needs and foster sustainable development. As coaching continues to expand in scope and complexity, this framework offers a timely lens for enhancing clarity, intentionality, and impact in health professions education.

Purpose: This study was motivated by the importance of the role of psychological aspects, especially mental toughness, in supporting athletes' abilities when facing anxiety in a match. Materials and Methods: This study used a meta-analysis method. The search used the Publish and Publish application, with Google Scholar as the database. Literature searches from various sources used the keywords: "Mental Toughness", "Athlete Anxiety", "Competitive Anxiety", "Performance Anxiety", and "Sports Psychology". Five hundred eighteen articles were obtained, which were then filtered based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 23 articles were analyzed. Result: The results of the analysis show a negative relationship in the moderate category between mental toughness and competitive anxiety, with rRE = -0.320 (z = -3.030; p < 0.002; 95% CI: -0.113 to -0.528). Egger's test showed no publication bias (p = 0.748 > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that increased mental toughness is negatively associated with athletes' levels of competitive anxiety. In other words, the higher an athlete's level of mental toughness, the lower their anåxiety levels during competition. This research suggests that coaches and sports psychologists are crucial to integrating psychological practices, such as goal setting, positive self-talk, and imagery, into athletes' training programs. This approach can help improve mental toughness and reduce athletes' anxiety during competition.

Understanding the role of executive functions (EFs) in sports performance is a central focus for practitioners and researchers in sports psychology, particularly in soccer. Prior studies suggest links between EFs and elite performance or game-specific skills, increasing their consideration in talent identification and development. Yet, the validity and predictive value of EF measures remain uncertain. This study examines the relationship between inhibition, cognitive flexibility and soccer performance development in a sample of youth elite players (Mage = 15.17, SDage = 1.3). Specifically, we investigate (i) associations with coaches’ evaluations of future potential (n = 74), (ii) age-related development (n = 34), and (iii) the predictive value of EFs for senior performance levels (n = 69). Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed no significant evidence that EFs explain elite soccer performance (for (i) all p ≥ .125; for (iii): all p ≥ .058). Multilevel analyses showed cognitive flexibility following age-related developmental trends similar to the general population (ii). These findings question whether a robust link between EFs and performance ratings exists. Given the small sample size, this study emphasizes the need for further, more nuanced research on the predictive value of EFs in the context of talent identification and development.

This study aimed to examine the interdisciplinary relationship between sports, psychology, and economics through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. A total of 335 publications indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database were identified in the second quarter of 2025 using an advanced search within the abstract field. The data were analyzed using Bibliometrix R and VOSviewer software. The analysis included annual publication trends, citation averages, international author collaborations, keyword co-occurrences, and conceptual network structures. Additionally, thematic evolution and the temporal development of research topics were visualized through trending topic maps and co-occurrence networks. The results indicate a notable increase in scientific production at the intersection of these fields, particularly after the mid-2000s, accompanied by a growing conceptual integration. Findings suggest that sports should be approached not only as a physical performance domain, but also as a multifaceted structure shaped by psychological and economic factors. Overall, this study maps the existing literature landscape and provides a conceptual framework that may guide future interdisciplinary research in sports economics and sports psychology.

The present study investigated the relationships among fear of success, rumination, and depression among national-level male Kabaddi players in Sonipat, Haryana. Despite the physical demands of competitive sports, psychological factors such as fear of success may significantly impact cognitive and emotional functioning in athletes. A total of 50 male Kabaddi players aged 21–25 years from Nir Guliya Kabaddi Academy participated in the study. Data were collected using standardized instruments: The Fear of Success Scale (FOSS), the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and simple linear regression to examine relationships and predictive effects among the variables. Results indicated weak and non-significant correlations between fear of success, rumination, and depression (p > 0.05), and regression analyses showed that fear of success had minimal predictive contribution to rumination and depression. These findings suggest that, within this sample, fear of success may not be a strong determinant of negative cognitive or emotional outcomes. Nevertheless, the study highlights the importance of considering psychological constructs in athlete development and emphasizes the need for mental health support and cognitive coping strategies in competitive sports. Implications for coaching and sports psychology interventions are discussed.

BackgroundThis study focuses on the impact of a 16-week table tennis exercise intervention on college students’ short video addiction and explores the chain mediating mechanism of cognitive bias and self-control therein. Currently, the short video addiction rate among college students is high, and physical exercise has shown unique value in digital addiction intervention. Still, the cognitive-behavioral level of the action path is not yet clear.MethodsSixty college students with short video addiction (daily average usage duration ≥ 4 h) from a certain university in Chengdu, China, were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group (30 people) and a control group (30 people). The experimental group implemented a 16-week, 3-times-a-week moderate-intensity table tennis intervention (60–80% of the maximum heart rate), while the control group maintained regular activities. The Short Video Addiction Scale for College Students (SVAS), Negative Cognitive Processing Bias Questionnaire, and Self-Control Scale were used for pre- and post-tests. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Hayes Process plugin (Model 6) were used to test the mediating effect.ResultsThe table tennis intervention significantly reduced the short video addiction level and cognitive bias and improved self-control ability in the experimental group. The improvement was significantly better than that in the control group. Cognitive bias and self-control formed a chain mediating path, and the total indirect effect accounted for 68.33% of the total effect.ConclusionTable tennis exercise can inhibit college students’ short video addiction through the chain mediating mechanism of reducing cognitive bias and enhancing self-control, providing an empirical basis from the perspective of sports psychology for digital addiction intervention.

BackgroundCompetitive anxiety is a critical factor that affects athletes’ performance and mental well-being. The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) is a widely used multidimensional measure for sport-specific anxiety, but a validated Japanese version has been unavailable. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the SAS-2 and evaluate its reliability and validity among university athletes in Japan.MethodsAfter a standard back-translation process, 640 university athletes (mean age 19.1 ± 1.0 years) completed an online survey containing the Japanese SAS-2 and scales for competitive anxiety (Sport Competition Anxiety Test for Adults; SCAT-A), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9), and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; RSES). Reliability was assessed through internal consistency and 2-week test–retest reliability (n = 140). Construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while criterion-related validity was established through correlations.ResultsThe Japanese SAS-2 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.91) and good test–retest reliability for the total score (ICC = 0.72). Validity was strongly supported by a high correlation with SCAT-A (r = 0.74) and expected moderate correlations with depressive symptoms (r = 0.42) and self-esteem (r = −0.41). The original three-factor structure (somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption) was supported by CFA, with marginal model fit indices (e.g., CFI = 0.884, SRMR = 0.063). Notably, total anxiety scores and all subscale scores were significantly lower among athletes with more years of competitive experience.ConclusionThe Japanese version of SAS-2 is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing multidimensional competitive anxiety in university athletes. The availability of this tool fills a critical gap in Japanese sports psychology, offering a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and coaches. It enables a more nuanced understanding of sport-specific anxiety, helping to identify athletes who need support, facilitate targeted interventions, and ultimately promote athlete mental health and well-being.