Emotion Regulation and Sports Performance: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Competing in sporting events, different feelings pass through an athlete’s emotions and bodily system. The present article is a systematic review that seeks to identify the ongoing research done on emotion regulation in the context of sports. This systematic review aims to review the literature and extract information on how emotion regulation is essential in sports performance. The paper examines how athletes can manage emotions, such as anxiety or anger, to optimize their mental state and achieve peak performance. The review examined the theoretical perspective of emotion regulation in the sports context. Two primary approaches to ER research that have become entwined in sports contexts in this systematic review are The IZOF model and the process model of Emotion regulation. Key concepts explored in this review include the "emotional zone," where athletes experience a specific range of emotional intensity that leads to optimal performance, and the ineffectiveness of emotion suppression techniques. The review emphasizes the need for personalized emotion management strategies customized to each athlete's specific needs. By effectively managing their emotions, athletes can enhance focus, motivation, and resilience, ultimately leading to improved sports performance. This research paper will contribute to the understanding of how athletes can harness the power of their emotions to excel in sports. Athletes, coaches, sports psychologists, and researchers can gain valuable knowledge from this review to optimize their training and reach their full potential by assessing emotion regulation's impact on sports performance, categorizing strategies, assessing methodologies, exploring athlete well-being, offering recommendations, and identifying research gaps.