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The Role of Physical Activity and Sports in Enhancing Psychological...
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The Role of Physical Activity and Sports in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 4874

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alejo Garcia-Naveira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Universidad Villanueva, 28034 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sport psychology; high performance; sports talent; esports; personality; positive psychology; mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity and sport are essential for psychological well-being and quality of life, both at an individual and societal level. However, the benefits and challenges associated with these practices vary depending on the population, sports modalities, and intervention contexts. This Special Issue aims to consolidate research exploring the relationship between physical activity, sport, and psychological health, adopting an inclusive approach that considers the experiences and perspectives of athletes, coaches, sports directors, medical services, families, and referees.

We are pleased to invite researchers to submit studies addressing key issues related to the impact, promotion, prevention, and protective and risk factors for psychological health across various domains: physical activity, amateur sport, high-performance sport, and youth sport. Additionally, we welcome research analyzing inclusive and adapted sport, as well as gender differences in physical activity and sport.

This Special Issue seeks to serve as a platform that integrates contributions to broaden the understanding of the impact of sport and physical activity on psychological well-being and quality of life. Researchers are invited to share their findings through diverse contributions, such as narrative and systematic reviews, meta-analyses, original research, psychological intervention programs, and case studies on this topic.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alejo Garcia-Naveira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical activity 
  • amateur sport 
  • elite sport 
  • youth sport 
  • inclusive sport 
  • adapted sport 
  • sport and gender 
  • psychological well-being
  • quality of life 
  • psychological health

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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23 pages, 705 KB  
Article
Impact of Injury Frequency and Severity on Mental Health Indicators in Triathletes: A Repeated-Measures Study
by Laura Gil-Caselles, Roberto Ruiz-Barquín, José María Gimenez-Egido, Alejo Garcia-Naveira and Aurelio Olmedilla-Zafra
Healthcare 2025, 13(14), 1657; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13141657 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 2008
Abstract
Background: The complexity of triathlon goes beyond the multidisciplinary nature of the sport and extends to the physical and mental health of the athlete. One of the most relevant aspects is injuries, which, in addition to the physical impact, can affect mental health [...] Read more.
Background: The complexity of triathlon goes beyond the multidisciplinary nature of the sport and extends to the physical and mental health of the athlete. One of the most relevant aspects is injuries, which, in addition to the physical impact, can affect mental health indicators. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between injuries sustained by triathletes and mental health indicators. Methods: Sixty-three subjects participated, of whom 48 suffered one or two injuries. The average age was 37.83 years, and the sample consisted of 34 men (39.56 years) and 29 women (32.21 years). The instruments used were an online questionnaire to collect the number of injuries, type, and severity; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A longitudinal study was conducted, lasting six months, where the questionnaires were administered monthly. Results: The greater the number of injuries, the higher the scores in the coefficients of variation of anger and vigor, and the highest peak is found in the variable stress, followed by anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Triathletes who suffer a greater number of injuries have higher scores in stress and depression, and their level of vigor and anger is increased, so they present a more negative and reactive stress and mood profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Physical Activity and Sports in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life)
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15 pages, 493 KB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Exercise and Physiotherapy in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review
by Javier Antonio Tamayo Fajardo and Francisco León Parejo
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2973; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222973 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1105
Abstract
Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and disabling adverse effect of cancer treatment, affecting up to 65% of patients. It reduces quality of life, increases fall risk, and often leads to chemotherapy dose reduction or discontinuation. Because pharmacological management provides limited [...] Read more.
Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and disabling adverse effect of cancer treatment, affecting up to 65% of patients. It reduces quality of life, increases fall risk, and often leads to chemotherapy dose reduction or discontinuation. Because pharmacological management provides limited relief, non-pharmacological strategies such as exercise and physiotherapy have become increasingly relevant. Methods: A systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating exercise and physiotherapy for the prevention or treatment of CIPN. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2025. Methodological quality was assessed with the PEDro scale, and due to heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was performed. Outcomes included neuropathic symptoms, pain, motor and sensory function, balance, muscle strength, and quality of life. Results: Twenty-six RCTs published between 2017 and 2025 were included. Nineteen assessed exercise-based interventions (aerobic, resistance, sensorimotor, balance, yoga, or multimodal), and seven examined physiotherapy modalities (manual therapy, photobiomodulation, Scrambler therapy, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation). Both approaches improved sensory and motor symptoms, balance, muscle strength, and quality of life. Adherence ranged from 70% to 95%, and no serious adverse events were reported. However, variability in intervention design and outcome measures precluded meta-analysis. Conclusions: Exercise and physiotherapy are safe, feasible, and effective non-pharmacological strategies for managing CIPN. However, heterogeneity in intervention design highlights the need for high-quality RCTs to establish optimal protocols and standardised clinical guidelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Physical Activity and Sports in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life)
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