The effectiveness of stress regulation interventions with athletes: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Elizabeth Murdoch*, Robin L. J. Lines, Monique Crane, Nikos Ntoumanis, Carly Brade, Eleanor Quested, Joanne Ayers, Daniel F. Gucciardi*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We conducted a pre-registered systematic review of seven databases and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with athletes to examine the effectiveness of stress regulation interventions on performance outcomes, and the conditions under which their effects are strongest. We found a positive and significant moderate overall effect of stress regulation interventions on performance outcomes (65 effects, k = 21, N = 2022, g = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.84) and a significant large effect on physiological outcomes (28 effects, k = 10, N = 368, g = 2.13, se = 0.81, 95% CI =.47, 3.79), yet the effect on psychological dimensions was statistically inconsequential (28 effects, k = 10, N = 787, g = 0.35, 95% CI = −0.12, 0.81). Sensitivity and meta-bias analyses generally supported the robustness of the pooled effect of stress regulation interventions on athlete performance, yet the prediction intervals suggested some interventions may be inefficacious or detrimental for athlete performance. The strongest effects on performance were observed at follow-up when compared with post-test. Collectively, our findings offer a high-quality assessment on the effectiveness of stress regulation interventions for athlete performance and provide direction for future research in terms of conceptual and methodological issues.

    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages37
    JournalInternational Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
    Early online date28 Sept 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 28 Sept 2021

    Keywords

    • behaviour change techniques
    • biofeedback
    • cognitive-behavioural
    • mindfulness
    • relaxation
    • three-level meta-analysis
    • cognitive–behavioural

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