Psychological pressure on athletes during matches and practices
December 2023
We investigated the psychological pressure intentionally and unintentionally generated by coaches and athletes during matches and practices using semi-structured interviews with 25 participants, consisting...
Twenty years of PETTLEP imagery: An update and new direction for simulation-based training
September 2022
Research has shown that motor imagery (MI) interventions, involving the systematic and repeated imagination of visual and kinaesthetic components of movements, can enhance performance in sport. Twenty...
An ecological dynamics approach to motor learning in practice: Reframing the learning and performing relationship in high performance sport
June 2022
For practitioners working in high performance sport, the primary goal is to ensure that precious preparation time is utilised efficiently, effectively and resourcefully to provide maximal impact on...
Effects of physical exercise intervention on depressive and anxious moods of college students: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
December 2023
Due to the limitation of drug treatment and other adverse reactions, many psychological treatments always adopt rehabilitation training or non-drug intervention methods, while physical exercise is considered...
Effects of mindfulness training on resilience, self-confidence and emotion regulation of elite football players: The mediating role of locus of control
December 2022
This study investigated effects of mindfulness training on resilience, self-confidence and emotion regulation of elite football players as well as mediating role of locus of control. The study recruited...
The effects of mindfulness training on mindfulness, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and performance satisfaction among female student-athletes: The moderating role of age
September–December 2021
Research has suggested that mindfulness can help combat stress, increase self-compassion, and improve well-being. Although mindfulness is also beneficial for student-athletes, little is known about...
Team decision-making behavior: An ecological dynamics approach
June 2023
Athletes act intentionally and adaptively for achieving task goals in sport performance environments. The ecological dynamics approach to decision making understands the performer‐environment system...
The wu-wei alternative: Effortless action and non-striving in the context of mindfulness practice and performance in sport
September–December 2021
Wu-wei is an important construct but is rarely discussed in the sport psychology literature. The present discussion fills the gap in literature and provides a conceptual overview of the wu-wei alternative....
Sport values, personal values and antisocial behavior in sport
December 2023
•Values act as guiding principles in an athlete's life, are key components of the spirit of sport, and are central to many sport organizations. We find evidence suggesting that moral values should be...
Effects of parental support and coach-initiated motivational climate on young athletes’ psychosocial behaviors and well-being
December 2022
This study examined the effect of coach-initiated motivational climate and parental support on intrinsic motivation, enjoyment of sport participation, subjective vitality, sport-related violence, and...
Social comparison in physical education: Impact of frames of reference, motives to compare, and self-determined motivation
September 2023
Physical education (PE) provides an important achievement setting for researchers to investigate social comparison processes, however, our understanding of how these processes function, and their consequences,...
Relationship between self-determination theory and flow in the domain of sports and academics among student-athletes
September 2023
The purposes of the present study were to examine the domain specificity of flow and its relationships with different motivation regulations in sport and academic. The sample consisted of 224 competitive...
Commitment in sport: Motivational climate, need satisfaction/thwarting and behavioural outcomes
September 2023
We examined whether motivational climate (autonomy-supportive coach climate; controlling coach climate) and basic psychological need satisfaction/thwarting (i.e., autonomy, competence, relatedness)...
The feudal glove of talent-selection decisions in sport –Strengthening the link between subjective and objective assessments
June 2024
When making talent-selection decisions in sport, coaches, scouts, program directors, and policymakers typically adopt two approaches: The subjective approach, also known as the coach's eye, where these...
The relationship between subjective sleep, mental health, and life skills acquisition among university student-athletes: A study on gender differences
September 2025
As an athlete, including collegiate athletes, it goes without saying that daily training, a diverse diet, and adequate rest are essential for optimal athletic performance. Among these, "sleep" plays...
An overview of the psychological complexities in sports performance
December 2024
Our special issue comprises a diverse collection of ten research and review articles, each offering unique insights into the psychological dimensions of athletic performance. From studies examining...
Work climate, motivation, emotional exhaustion, and continuance intention in sport volunteers: A two-wave prospective survey
September 2023
Retaining volunteers is critical for sport and social development. This two-wave prospective survey was conducted to examine the relationship between sport volunteers’ work climate, motivation, emotional...
An examination of the relationship between burnout and grit in college athletes
December 2024
Burnout symptoms are a detrimental concern many athletes have at some point throughout their athletic careers. In order to assist athletes with performing at their optimal level, there is a need to...
The effects of mental imagery and music on sprint swimming performance
June 2025
Swimming, known as one of the most prestigious Olympic sports, represents a highly sought-after aspiration for athletes around the globe. A notable aspect of sports performance is the intricate interplay...
An attempt to measure yips symptoms for athletes: Scale development and examination of reliability and validity
December 2025
•Among 883 participants, approximately 28 % reported experiencing Yips, indicating its prevalence in sports.•Exploratory factor analysis identified two Yips symptom categories: "Physical" and "Psychological."•The...
NBA game progression of extreme score shifts and comeback analysis: A team resilience perspective
December 2024
We focus on the construct of team resiliency in analyzing data from NBA games hitting a 20-point deficit in the first half during the 1997/8 to 2021/2 seasons to determine the frequency of comebacks...
The relationship between athlete leadership and communication: Analyzing social networks within Japanese sport teams
December 2022
Despite the recent advancement of athlete leadership studies, little is known about their applicability in East Asian countries such as Japan, and more importantly, their relationship to communication...
Kawa model on mental health, sports and physical performance: A mini review
December 2023
Successful sports performance is characterized by psychological, physical, technical, and tactical factors. Of these factors, the psychological factor is typically ignored despite contributing more...
Factors influencing exercise and sport participation among adults living with spinal cord injuries in Japan
December 2025
People living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are less likely to participate in sports and exercise than the general population and people with other chronic conditions. A comprehensive understanding...
Effects of supervised physical exercise on emotions among adult women with a diagnostic of borderline personality disorder: A series of mixed method single-case experimental trials combined with ecological momentary assessment
September 2024
•Physical exercise is acceptable for adults with borderline personality disorder.•Physical exercise increases positive emotions in adults with BPD.•Physical exercise decreases negative emotions in adults...