Integrative psychological interventions for stress regulation in sport: a mini-review

Psychological stress plays a critical role in shaping performance and well-being in competitive sport. This mini-review examines three major categories of psychological interventions for stress regulation in athletes: cognitive-behavioral approaches, mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions, and psychophysiological and technology-assisted strategies. While existing literature generally supports the effectiveness of these approaches in improving emotional regulation, attentional control, and stress management, the evidence remains heterogeneous and often context-dependent. Importantly, current findings suggest that no single intervention can be considered universally optimal, as effectiveness appears to vary according to athlete characteristics and sport-specific demands. This review provides a critical and comparative synthesis of the literature, highlighting differential roles of intervention approaches across performance contexts. Cognitive-behavioral strategies appear most effective for structured pre-competition preparation, mindfulness-based approaches for in-performance regulation, and psychophysiological and technology-assisted strategies for monitoring and recovery processes. In addition, the increasing integration of technology in sport presents both opportunities and challenges. While technology-assisted tools may enhance self-awareness and feedback, excessive reliance on external monitoring may limit the development of autonomous self-regulation skills, particularly among younger athletes. Overall, stress regulation is best conceptualized as a trainable, context-sensitive skill that requires individualized and integrative intervention approaches. Future research should focus on comparative and longitudinal designs to better understand the interaction between intervention type, athlete profile, and performance context.