Toward a culturally competent sport psychology in South East Asia: A review on cultural sport psychology

Sport psychology, traditionally rooted in Western-centric paradigms, seeks to understand human behaviour in sport and enhance athletic performance through mental skills training and psychological support. However, as sport becomes a global phenomenon, traditional models may fall short in addressing the nuanced needs of culturally diverse athletes. Cultural Sport Psychology (CSP) has emerged as a critical approach and research genre that emphasizes understanding and integrating cultural diversity into sport psychology practice, however most of its discussion still rely heavily in western and European perspectives, and still less discussion in the South East Asian context. This review aims to explore the core tenets, practical challenges, and transformative potentials of CSP, arguing for a culturally competent sport psychology framework that resonates across diverse cultural settings. An example of how applying CSP strategies in a highly diverse culture country, such as Indonesia, is also given.