Psychological skills training for sport-related outcomes: An umbrella review of evidence credibility and methodological quality.

Shiao Zhao; Xuda Zhang; Yiran Liu; Zhide Liang; Taihe Liang; Senyao Du; Chon In Iao; Sanfan Ng; Ziheng Ning

doi:10.1080/02640414.2026.2715216

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Psychological skills training for sport-related outcomes: An umbrella review of evidence credibility and methodological quality.

Shiao Zhao·Xuda Zhang·Yiran Liu·Zhide Liang·Taihe Liang·Senyao Du·Chon In Iao·Sanfan Ng·Ziheng Ning

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Abstract

Psychological skills training (PST) is widely used in sport, but review-level evidence remains fragmented across interventions, populations, outcomes, and methodological standards. This umbrella review synthesized evidence on PST-related interventions for sport-related outcomes, including athletic performance, psychological outcomes, cognitive performance, and sports injury, and evaluated evidence credibility, certainty, and methodological quality. A systematic literature search was conducted on 21 May 2025 in MEDLINE, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus, Web of Science, and CINAHL Complete. Overall, 61 reviews involving 42,106 participants were included; 35 meta-analyses involving 28,076 participants were eligible for quantitative synthesis, and 26 reviews or meta-analyses involving 14,030 participants were summarized qualitatively. Quantitative findings showed generally positive point estimates for mindfulness-based interventions, imagery practice, music-based interventions, neurofeedback, perceptual-cognitive training, and multiple PST interventions, but most findings were weak or non-significant and certainty was generally very low. Qualitative evidence suggested potential benefits, but conclusions varied according to intervention definition, delivery, outcome measurement, and methodological quality. Evidence was more developed for athletic performance and psychological outcomes than for cognitive performance and sports injury. Overall, PST-related interventions may benefit sport-related outcomes, but conclusions should remain cautious because of low certainty, methodological heterogeneity, and limited evidence credibility.

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Humans Athletic Injuries Athletic Performance Cognition Sports Psychological skills training athletic performance cognitive performance psychological outcomes sports injury umbrella review Journal Article Systematic Review Review

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Shiao Zhao, Xuda Zhang, Yiran Liu, Zhide Liang, Taihe Liang, Senyao Du, Chon In Iao, Sanfan Ng, Ziheng Ning. 2026-08-09. Psychological skills training for sport-related outcomes: An umbrella review of evidence credibility and methodological quality.. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2026.2715216

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Athletic Injuries subject Athletic Performance subject Cognition subject Humans subject Journal Article subject Journal Article; Systematic Review; Review resource Systematic reviews study

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