Improving athlete and team performance through emotional and psychological training: A literature review
Keywords:
Athlete, Performance, Emotional , Psychological TrainingAbstract
Background
Athletic performance optimization has evolved beyond physical training to include both emotional and psychological dimensions. The study aims to explore the impact of emotional and psychological training, such as emotional intelligence (EI), mental toughness, and psychological skills training (PST), on athlete and team performance.
Objectives
The study aims to explore the impact of emotional and psychological training, such as emotional intelligence (EI), mental toughness, and psychological skills training (PST), on athlete and team performance.
Methods
This study was a literature review using PubMed and Scopus databases with keywords such as "Sports Psychology AND Mental Toughness AND Emotional Intelligence in Sports AND Performance Enhancement". The article selection is conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines and the inclusion criteria include articles in English published in indexed journals for the past five years. A total of 167 initial publications were identified, and 5 articles were selected for in-depth analysis.
Results
The findings show that EI training improves athletes' ability to manage stress, focus and strategic decision-making. PST techniques such as visualization and self-talk improve intrinsic motivation and motor skills. At the team level, collective EI improves cohesion, collaboration, and synergy. Studies also reveal the benefits of collective leadership and mental management strategies in reducing the effects of mental fatigue and strengthening team dynamics.
Conclusion
Emotional and psychological training plays a crucial role in improving individual and team performance. However, challenges such as stigma on mental health and limited access at the grassroots level still need to be addressed. Future research should focus on developing evidence-based interventions that are appropriate to different sports contexts to support the broad integration of this training.
