Abstract Athletic performance is influenced not only by physiological and biomechanical factors but also by psychological constructs such as motivation, confidence, stress, imagery, and focus. The psychology of athletic performance integrates theories from sport psychology, neuroscience, and motivational sciences to explain how mental processes affect performance outcomes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of psychological determinants that influence athletic performance, explores the mechanisms through which mental factors impact athletes, and discusses interventions used to optimize performance. Results from recent studies demonstrate the critical role of psychological skills training, stress management, and mental resilience in improving performance across sport disciplines. Implications for practice and future research directions are also discussed.
Manda V. Thengne (Thu,) studied this question.