Psychological adaptation mechanisms of athletes’ cognitive resilience in high-temperature environments

Introduction This study integrates the “Stress and Coping” theory with the “Ordinary Magic” model to propose a sequential “challenge appraisal -resource gain -cognitive resilience” framework. The framework aims to elucidate the psychological adaptation processes contributing to athletes’ cognitive resilience in high-temperature environments. The study specifically explores the mediating role of challenge appraisal in the relationship between psychological resources and cognitive resilience, as well as the moderating effect of team support on this relationship. Methods Data were collected from 240 professional athletes via a questionnaire-based survey, capturing multidimensional psychological and contextual variables. The analysis utilized structural equation modeling (SEM), latent profile analysis (LPA), and moderated effect testing to assess the proposed mediation, heterogeneity, and moderation pathways. Results Findings reveal that cognitive resilience in high-temperature environments is a dynamic process influenced by cognitive reappraisal and resource coupling. The study demonstrates that challenge appraisal mediates the relationship between psychological resources and cognitive resilience, with team support acting as a moderating factor. Discussion These results provide empirical support for targeted psychological interventions and the development of team-support systems in sports involving thermal stress. Additionally, the findings offer a theoretical advancement in sports psychology by transitioning from a static trait-oriented approach to a more dynamic “individual-context” interaction paradigm. This shift highlights the complex nature of psychological adaptation mechanisms in extreme environments.