Sport and Exercise Psychology

Overview

Sport and exercise psychology is the scientific study of how behavior, cognition, and emotion influence and are influenced by participation in sport and physical activity. It examines the mental factors that shape athletic performance, such as motivation, concentration, confidence, anxiety, and resilience, and it applies psychological strategies, including goal setting, imagery, and self-regulation, to help athletes and active individuals perform closer to their potential. The field also addresses the psychological benefits of exercise, including its effects on mood, stress, and wellbeing, and it studies what encourages people to begin and maintain physical activity. As a discipline within sports and exercise medicine, sport and exercise psychology complements the physiological, biomechanical, and clinical study of athletes by attending to the mental dimension of training, competition, and recovery. It connects psychological assessment and intervention to performance goals, injury rehabilitation, and long-term engagement in active lifestyles. Sports and Exercise Medicine publishes peer-reviewed, open-access research across the science of sport, exercise, and athletic performance. This page situates sport and exercise psychology within that scope, gathering material relevant to the psychological foundations of performance, participation, and wellbeing in physically active populations.

Research published in this journal

3 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.

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