Psychology of Sport and Exercise最新文献

{"title":"Interpersonal interactions improve the representativeness of embodied decision-making behaviour in football","authors":"Daniel Müller ,&nbsp;Oliver Höner ,&nbsp;Danique van der Veerdonk ,&nbsp;Willem van der Meer ,&nbsp;David Mann","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Decision making is a crucial skill in team sports, yet remains challenging to measure in controlled settings. For instance, video-based testing of decision making has long neglected the interpersonal interactions between attackers and defenders, therefore it remains unclear to what degree embodied decision-making tested in those conditions reflects that observed in the natural environment. The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which interpersonal interactions influence behaviour in an embodied decision-making task. We designed an interactive avatar defender in a virtual-reality setting and conducted an empirical study to evaluate the impact of the interactions. Attackers performed a 1v1 task, and we manipulated the defender's level of interactivity to compare the attacker's behaviour to that observed when facing an opponent in-situ. Decision-making behaviour was compared across four conditions of increasing interactivity (virtual no-opponent, virtual non-interactive opponent, virtual interactive opponent, and in-situ opponent). Results strongly support the idea that adding interactions makes the task more representative of in-situ behaviour. Specifically, key measures of behaviour (e.g., trial duration and number of touches) measured with the virtual-interactive opponent (β_Touches = 4.3, β_Duration = 2.7) were much more representative of the in-situ behaviour (β_Touches = 5.4, β_Duration = 3.6) than they were against the virtual non-interactive opponent (β_Touches = 2.9, β_Duration = 1.84) and in the virtual no-opponent condition (β_Touches = 2.5 β_Duration = 1.4). The results validate the call to incorporate interpersonal interactions as a key component of decision-making tasks, and to support this we introduce a novel method for assessing interactive decision-making skills that we make available open source.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 103063"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146000252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mobilizing effort in complex motor tasks: Try-harder instructions in deceptive actions","authors":"Nils T. Böer ,&nbsp;Michael B. Steinborn ,&nbsp;Matthias Weigelt ,&nbsp;Iris Güldenpenning","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103083","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103083","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated whether external effort mobilization through try-harder instructions enhances performance in complex motor tasks, as reflected by the reduction of costs associated with producing a deceptive action. Basketball passing movements with and without head fakes were examined in a reaction-time paradigm. Participants were generally instructed to initiate the movement as fast and accurately as possible, while try-harder instructions were presented in 25 % of trials, prompting participants to mobilize all their cognitive resources to perform even faster. To investigate if athletic expertise modulates the potential effects of effort mobilization, basketball novices and experienced players were tested. Results demonstrated that try-harder instructions generally improved participants’ performance, facilitating faster response initiation times and movement execution, as well as a specific reduction in initiation time variability. Novices benefited more than experienced players, indicating that effort results in greater improvement when complex motor actions (for example, passes with head fakes) are not yet fully stabilized and lack automated fluency. This pattern suggests that effort enhances performance in complex actions when performance is limited by the amount of cognitive capacity available, supporting the coordination of partly conflicting movement components within tight temporal constraints. The findings extend previous research on effort mobilization from simple to complex motor tasks. Try-harder instructions appear to enhance performance primarily by reducing attentional lapses rather than generally improving processing speed. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of effort mobilization in experienced athletes in situations of high concurrent cognitive load.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 103083"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146055754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between mindfulness, competitive anxiety, and self-efficacy in Taekwondo athletes with/without injury: The moderated mediation model","authors":"Jeffrey Yu ,&nbsp;Jui-Ti Nien ,&nbsp;Mu-Yen Chu ,&nbsp;Yi-Zhen Yang ,&nbsp;Yi-Chih Ko ,&nbsp;Yun-Han Chen ,&nbsp;Nai-Chi Chen ,&nbsp;Yu-Kai Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Combat sports athletes are exposed to higher rates of injury, often resulting in increased anxiety and decreased pre-event self-efficacy. Mindfulness may serve as a protective buffer against these psychological effects. This study aimed to examine the relationship between athletic mindfulness and pre-event self-efficacy through competitive anxiety, as well as the moderating role of injury status among Taekwondo athletes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Collegiate Taekwondo athletes (<em>N</em> = 105) completed measures of athletic mindfulness, competitive anxiety, pre-event self-efficacy, and injury status prior to a national competition. A moderated mediation model was tested using PROCESS Models 4 and 59.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Athletic mindfulness significantly predicted pre-event self-efficacy through cognitive anxiety. Although injury status did not moderate the overall mediation pathway, it moderated the relationship between athletic mindfulness and cognitive anxiety.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings suggest a pathway through which mindfulness enhances pre-event self-efficacy by reducing cognitive anxiety among combat sports athletes. Regardless of its moderation of the mediation effect, injury status revealed that mindfulness exerted a stronger influence on reducing cognitive anxiety among injured athletes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 103080"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stressors and coping among esports coaches","authors":"Oliver Leis ,&nbsp;Dylan R. Poulus ,&nbsp;Michael G. Trotter ,&nbsp;Faye Didymus ,&nbsp;Laura D. Swettenham","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Esports coaches are integral to the development, performance, and overall success of esports players. Sharing the same high-pressure environment, they are likely exposed to similar stressors that can affect not only their effectiveness as coaches but also their personal well-being. Despite their critical role, esports coaches often lack access to structured development programs and support systems. To inform future research enabling tailored intervention strategies for coaches, this study explored the stressors faced by esports coaches and the coping strategies they employ. Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews with 12 male esports coaches, this study reports stressors associated with coaches navigating performance and interpersonal demands (e.g., underperforming players, player attitudes), organizational demands (e.g., organizational pressure), social exposure (e.g., social media comments), and boundaries of personal and professional life (e.g., work-life balance). Coaches discussed fostering a supportive environment, rest as a relational and professional practice, and managing focus, emotion, and meaning to cope with stressors. Findings demonstrate similarities with previous research on esports players and coaches in traditional sports, highlighting a combination of work-related and personal stressors. Esports coaches placed less emphasis on social stressors but highlighted the role of personal stressors. Insights underscore the need for research examining personal (e.g., gender) and situational factors (e.g., organizations), and practical interventions such as communication training and better support to reduce burnout and improve stress management. Ultimately, understanding and addressing these stressors can optimize coaches' well-being and professional development, leading to better support for players and improved performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 103069"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146042415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mental health in sport: Opportunities for the future of recreational and elite sport psychology","authors":"Stewart A. Vella ,&nbsp;Simon Rice","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mental health is a core concern of sport psychology, yet the field's engagement with mental health remains relatively recent. This paper identifies and explores four key challenges and opportunities that can advance mental health research and practice in sport psychology. First, we outline the need for solutions to better mental health including a shift from problem-oriented research focused on identifying causes of mental ill-health, toward solution-oriented designs that test and inform interventions and policy decisions. Second, we argue that meaningful mental health promotion in sport requires moving beyond individual-level programs to a systems-level approach that targets sport environments and structures. Third, we highlight the necessity of a nimble and responsive research agenda that keeps pace with societal change and policy development. Fourth, we emphasise the need for conceptual clarity to guide research, practice, and policy development. These challenges are deeply entwined: conceptual clarity underpins effective interventions; high-quality, solution-oriented research supports system-level change; and agile research processes can accelerate translation into practice. A scientist-practitioner agenda can facilitate progress across all challenges by ensuring that research and practice are mutually informative. Together, these entwined priorities offer a roadmap for the field to more effectively promote mental health in sport. We conclude by calling for a discipline-wide commitment to clear conceptualisation, rigorous and relevant research, and meaningful integration between science, policy, and practice across all levels of sport participation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103021"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145531030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in desire-goal motivational conflict predict pacing during an endurance cycling time trial","authors":"Izzy G. Wellings ,&nbsp;Richard Ferguson ,&nbsp;Ian M. Taylor","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined whether the desire to reduce effort, performance goal value and the conflict between the two motives predicted pace during endurance performance. Fifty participants (25 males, 25 females, <em>M</em>_<em>age</em> = 22.10 years; <em>SD =</em> 3.03 years) completed an incrementally difficult sub-maximal cycling task to establish the starting intensity for a subsequent 8 km time trial. Following a 30-min rest, the goal was to complete the time trial as fast as possible, with participants being able to alter their work rate (i.e., watts) throughout. The desire to reduce effort, performance goal value, and time elapsed were measured at baseline and after each km. Results were analysed using multilevel modelling. Within-person changes in performance goal value predicted pace in the expected direction consistently during the time trial. Within-person changes in desire to reduce effort and the desire-goal conflict became increasingly important predictors of pace as the time trial progressed. Potential time-lagged effects of the desire to reduce effort on pace were also observed. The results provide greater understanding of the dynamic relationship between the desire-goal conflict and endurance performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103067"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Physical Activity Relatedness Satisfaction Scale: Assessing relatedness in those who prefer to be active alone and with others","authors":"Stephanie A. Hooker ,&nbsp;Lara J. LaCaille ,&nbsp;Rick A. LaCaille ,&nbsp;Jonathon Sikorski","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Relatedness, or the extent to which individuals feel connected to others, is one of three basic psychological needs postulated by self-determination theory (SDT). In physical activity contexts, the extent to which relatedness satisfaction is important for maintaining physical activity is unclear, and measurement challenges have hindered progress in the field. Specifically, many individuals prefer solitary physical activity, yet existing instruments assessing relatedness in physical activity are predominantly designed for group-based exercise settings. The purpose of this study was to develop and examine the psychometric properties of a new measure of relatedness for physical activity contexts, the Physical Activity Relatedness Satisfaction Scale (PARSS). Participants (<em>N</em> = 696) were recruited through an undergraduate psychology subject pool and random selection of patients in a health system. In a cross-sectional survey, participants completed PARSS test items, measures of basic need satisfaction, behavioral regulation, and self-reported physical activity. Analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and correlations to establish construct and criterion validity. The final measure included 6 items contributing to one latent factor. The measure was invariant to participants’ physical activity preferences and demonstrated high internal consistency reliability (α = .94) and evidence for construct and criterion validity (positive associations with other relatedness measures, autonomy and competence satisfaction, autonomous motivation and physical activity). The PARSS offers a reliable tool for observational studies exploring the relationship between relatedness satisfaction and physical activity, and for intervention research targeting relatedness as a mechanism for promoting physical activity behavior change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103068"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Caregiver gender bias in youth sport: The effects of implicit and explicit gender associations on support and pressure","authors":"Corliss Bean ,&nbsp;Ross M. Murray ,&nbsp;Shannon Kerwin ,&nbsp;Michele K. Donnelly","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Implicit and explicit gender associations influence perceptions and behaviors in meaningful ways, including caregivers' youth sport decisions. Caregiver support and pressure play key roles in shaping youth sport experiences. This study examined the extent to which Canadian youth sport caregivers held implicit and explicit gender associations related to sport and whether associations were related to support or pressure placed on their children. A secondary aim was to examine whether these relationships differed based on child's gender. Two-hundred forty Canadian caregivers (49.6 % women) of cisgender boys and cisgender girls involved in youth sport completed an online survey that included demographic questions, measures of support and pressure in sport, one explicit gender-sport association question, and a Single-Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT) to assess implicit gender-sport associations. Caregivers reported significant explicit gender bias, with scores above the midpoint, indicating a stronger association between sport and men. Conversely, no significant implicit gender bias was observed. Regression analyses indicated that implicit gender bias interacted with child's gender and was associated with caregiver behaviors. Caregivers who implicitly associated sport with boys reported less support for their daughters (<em>b</em> = −0.216, <em>p</em> = .048) and less pressure for their sons (<em>b</em> = −0.490, <em>p</em> = .038). Explicit bias was not significantly associated with support or pressure. Findings suggest caregivers' unconscious associations with sport may shape their behaviors toward their children in gendered ways. There is a need for continued efforts to promote girls' sport participation as valued, helping shift broader cultural narratives around gender and sport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103034"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145521174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The moderating role of cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents' physiological and psychological responses to real-life academic stress","authors":"Markus Gerber,&nbsp;Damian Räber,&nbsp;Vera Nina Looser,&nbsp;Sebastian Ludyga","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The influence of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on physiological/psychological stress reactivity has been a longstanding focus of scientific research. However, it remains unclear whether laboratory-based research extends to real-life stressors. We therefore examined whether CRF moderates physiological/psychological stress reactivity in adolescents during a real-life stress situation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study was conducted with 79 ninth-grade students (M = 14.19 ± 0.79 years; 49.4 % girls). Physiological stress response was assessed via heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), measured during a mathematics exam (stress condition) and a regular mathematics lesson (baseline condition). HRV was indexed using low frequency power (LF). Psychological responses (affective states, anxiety) were evaluated through standardized self-report questionnaires. CRF was estimated using the 20-m Shuttle run test, and participants were categorized into low vs. high fitness groups via median split. Differences in stress reactivity were tested via repeated-measures ANOVAs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant condition-by-group interactions were observed for affective states and anxiety. While no significant group differences emerged at baseline, participants with higher estimated CRF exhibited more positive affective states and lower anxiety during the stress condition. Furthermore, the high fitness group demonstrated lower HR and higher HRV at baseline and during the stress condition.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Higher estimated CRF is associated with more favorable autonomic functioning and reduced psychological stress reactivity in adolescents facing a real-life stressor. These findings suggest that students with higher estimated CRF may be better equipped to cope with everyday stressors. Promoting CRF in youth may represent a viable strategy to support psychological and physiological health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103058"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145800939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Translating physical activity intentions into behavior in adults with overweight/obesity: The role of daily stressors and stress pile-up","authors":"Jimikaye B. Courtney ,&nbsp;Aiden J. Chauntry ,&nbsp;Paschal Sheeran","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Research shows an inconsistent association between psychological stress and physical activity (PA), which may be due to not considering the type of stress (daily stressors vs. accumulated daily stressors [i.e., stress pile-up]) and the role of PA intentions in PA behavior. This study investigated whether daily stressful experiences or stress pile-up moderate within-person associations between daily PA intentions and PA behavior.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Adults with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m² wore an activPAL for 21 days to measure moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and completed morning diaries about PA intentions and evening diaries about stressful experiences. Two-part multilevel models tested within-person interactions between intentions, daily stress experiences and stress pile-up (stressor frequency, intensity, negative affect) across 21 days on odds and volume of MVPA.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants (N = 91, M_age = 30.7 ± 6.5, 58 % female, 72 % White) experienced stressors on 32 % of days. On days with stronger intentions, participants had 49 % higher odds of doing MVPA and spent 26 % more time in MVPA (<em>p</em>s &lt; 0.001). After adjusting for multiple comparisons, stress pile-up, but not daily stress experiences, moderated PA intention-behavior associations. Intentions were associated with time in MVPA when people experienced fewer than 10 stressors or stress intensity pile-up was less than 25.7 points but not when pile-up was higher (PR_interaction = 0.98 and 0.99, respectively).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Stress pile-up undermined the translation of PA intentions into behavior. This could promote a negative reinforcement cycle with stress pile-up reducing PA participation and reduced PA exacerbating people's stress responses. Effective stress-management could interrupt this cycle to promote better health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103053"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145752338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}