Psychological factors in padel players: a systematic review

Introduction: Psychological factors are essential to understanding and enhancing padel performance, as they influence how players cope with the sport’s physical and emotional demands. Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify and analyze the main psychological variables studied about padel, including frustration, anxiety, stress, self-confidence, and mental fatigue. Methodology: The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and involved a thorough search of four major databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus, up to August 2024. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 studies were selected from 1,384, comprising 1,021 participants. Most studies were descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative, with only one adopting an experimental design. Results: The review revealed that the most researched psychological variables in padel are anxiety, self-confidence, and stress-induced mental fatigue. A consistent finding across studies was that players often experience high levels of anxiety and stress before competitions, while also maintaining elevated levels of self-confidence. Additionally, players with greater experience and higher competitive levels tend to manage psychological demands more effectively than less experienced peers. Discussion: These findings suggest that psychological preparation and mental training may be crucial for improving performance in padel. Conclusion: This review highlights the importance of psychological factors in sport and recommends continued research to develop strategies that support mental well-being and performance optimization in padel players. Understanding how these variables interact can contribute to more comprehensive athlete development programs and better outcomes in both recreational and competitive contexts.