PsychTech & Health Journal

BEYOND METRICS: THE CRISIS OF ACADEMIC QUALITY IN PORTUGAL

José Jacinto Vasconcelos-Raposo — 2025-10-03

In recent decades, academic research in Portugal has been profoundly shaped by the dominance of bibliometric metrics. Access to ISI and Scopus, initially intended to enhance international visibility, has instead fostered “academic inflation,” including artificial fragmentation of work and the proliferation of strategic co-authorships. The outcome is an exponential rise in publications, yet a stagnation in genuine innovation and social impact. This dynamic erodes scientific integrity, weakens the training of young scholars, and undermines public trust. Reversing this trend requires restoring the primacy of quality over quantity, and valuing teaching and scholarly depth above mere numerical output.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURE OF ELITE SPORTS PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE, INTERVENTIONS, AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES

José Vasconcelos-Raposo — 2025-10-03

This systematic review synthesizes contemporary research on the psychological profile of elite athletes, with a focus on self-confidence, anxiety/negativity, attentional control, motivation, imagery, positivity, and competitive attitude. Drawing on 48 empirical studies across diverse sports and global contexts, the review evaluates the dynamic relationships among these constructs, benchmarks psychological training interventions, and critically examines the unique roles of positivity and competitive attitude in elite performance. Findings show that self-confidence inversely correlates with anxiety/negativity, while attentional control and motivation are pivotal for sustaining resilience and competitive drive. Psychological skills training, encompassing imagery, relaxation, and cognitive restructuring, effectively enhance self-confidence and reduce anxiety/negativity, although intervention heterogeneity limits definitive conclusions. Persistent challenges include a lack of standardized measurement tools, a predominance of cross-sectional studies, and insufficient longitudinal and culturally adapted research. The review underscores the need for rigorous, longitudinal investigations and tailored interventions to advance theoretical models and optimize psychological preparation in elite sport.

FACTORS INFLUENCING VISUALIZATION AND ATHLETIC SELF-IMAGE IN STUDENT-ATHLETES

Hugo Rodrigues-Fernandes — 2025-10-03

This study investigated the influence of sex, level of schooling, sport type, and years of competitive practice on the psychological attributes of student-athletes, specifically examining kinetic imagery, mental imagery, and athletic self-image. A quasi-experimental design was employed with a sample of 366 student-athletes (152 female, 214 male). Participants completed the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ) to assess kinetic and mental imagery, and a measure of athletic self-image. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Results indicated that years of competitive practice had a significant main effect on athletic self-image (p < .001), with athletes having six or more years of experience reporting a stronger self-image than those with less experience. Significant differences were also found by sex, with males reporting greater ease in mental imagery (p = .030), and by level of schooling, where university students reported significantly more difficulty with both kinetic (p = .006) and mental imagery (p = .041) than 12th-grade students. No significant differences were observed for sport type (individual vs. collective) on any measure. The findings confirm that athletic self-image is a developmental construct strongly linked to experience. The counterintuitive results regarding schooling level suggest that factors such as metacognitive awareness or cognitive load may influence self-reported imagery ability. Overall, this study highlights the complex interplay of demographic and experiential factors on athletes’ psychological profiles and underscores the need for tailored mental skills training.

DETERMINANT FACTORS OF SUCCESS IN ELITE COMPETITIVE SWIMMING: THE PERCEPTIONS OF OLYMPIC COACHES

António Vasconcelos-Raposo — 2025-10-03

This study explored the perceptions of 33 Olympic swimming coaches from 12 national federations on key factors influencing elite performance, focusing on coach education, professional context, engagement with science, training planning and monitoring, and multidisciplinary team collaboration. Using a validated 76-item online questionnaire, data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Nearly all coaches held university degrees and valued initial academic training, prioritizing ongoing education through peer interaction and professional development. Over half regularly consulted scientific literature. Despite the emphasis on exclusive coaching dedication, one-third of coaches held second jobs, reflecting occupational instability at the Olympic level. Professional practice involved assessing technical, psychological, and physiological indicators. Greater coaching experience, particularly through multiple Olympic participations, led coaches to assume more responsibility in athlete preparation, emphasizing technical and dryland strength training and multidisciplinary team contributions, especially from psychologists. Three models of psychologist integration were identified: full team integration, inclusion in the medical department, and external consultancy. The study concludes that coaches believe success is underpinned by the convergence of academic training, competitive experience, systematic monitoring, technical specialization, and multidisciplinary support, while the full professionalization of coaching remains a significant structural challenge.

MANAGING EMOTIONS IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS: INTEGRATED MODELS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY

José Jacinto Vasconcelos-Raposo — 2025-10-03

High-performance sport has evolved into an arena where psychological excellence is as decisive as physical prowess. The ability to effectively regulate emotions, particularly pre-competitive anxiety/negativity (PCA), consistently distinguishes elite performance. This article presents a critical and in-depth analysis of the contemporary literature on emotional management in sport. Beginning with a deconstruction of the athlete’s complex emotional landscape, it delves into the neurocognitive mechanisms and multifactorial antecedents of these states, identifying them as a central obstacle to optimal performance. The core of the work focuses on evaluating a spectrum of evidence-based psychological interventions, ranging from physiological regulation strategies and pre-competitive routines to third-wave approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness training. The analysis reveals a paradigm shift from models aimed at eliminating anxiety/negativity to approaches that promote psychological flexibility and acceptance. It is concluded that the most effective intervention resides in an integrated, periodized, and personalized model—a “toolbox” of psychological skills—adapted to the athlete’s individual needs and the phases of their training cycle. This work argues that the future of sport psychology lies in promoting the athlete’s holistic well-being as the fundamental pillar for sustainable, high-level performance.