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Special Issues
Mood and Emotion in Sport and Exercise Performance
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Mood and Emotion in Sport and Exercise Performance

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3515

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Donatella Di Corrado

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Guest Editor
Department of Human and Society Sciences, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: early childhood education; sport psychology; child development; pediatric health; mental imagery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marinella Coco

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Guest Editor
Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Interests: blood lactate; sport; cognitive functions; neuroscience; psychology; neuropsychology; psychobiology; mental imagery; postural control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vincenzo Cristian Francavilla

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: diseases of the musculoskeletal system; traumatology; sports medicine; rehabilitation; posturology; orthopedics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interest in the subject of mood and emotion expertise has a long history in the sport, cognitive and medical sciences. Mood state refers to a host of transient, fluctuating affective states that indicate how individuals feel overall at a particular moment in time. Emotions also play a central role in sport performance. Accordingly, it is important that athletes are able to draw on a range of strategies to improve emotional control. Different biological and psychological markers have been used to optimize competitive preparation. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to assemble either applied or theoretical research from experts within the field of all forms of sport performance—e.g., biomechanics, physiology, exercise, talent identification, and psychology—on the effects of exercise on mood and emotional states. Works can be experimental or computational. Reviews and papers on education and ethical issues are also welcome. We encourage interdisciplinary paper submissions concerning the following areas:

  • Cognitive, biological and physiological processes for enhancing performance;
  • Motor performance cognitive impact throughout development;
  • Emotional and motor components in sport performance;
  • The effects of personality traits on sport performance;
  • The efficacy of using imagery to enhance sport performance;
  • The effect of mood states on performance;
  • Motion and postural analysis.

Prof. Dr. Donatella Di Corrado
Dr. Marinella Coco
Dr. Vincenzo Cristian Francavilla
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1600 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

  • performance
  • biological and physiological processes
  • cognitive and emotional functions
  • expertise
  • mood

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 253 KiB  
Article
Rank-Based Psychological Characteristics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes: Mental Strength, Resilience, Grit, Self-Efficacy, Self-Control, Aggression, Life Satisfaction, and Mental Health
by Leandro de Lorenco-Lima, Stacey A. Gaines and Elisabeth M. Waterbury
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020100 - 22 Mar 2025
Viewed by 858
Abstract
Brazilian jiu-jitsu engagement has been found to positively impact psychological variables in children, adolescents, and adult athletes. Psychological variabilities have previously been shown among belt ranks in Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to explore the differences in mental strength, resilience, grit, [...] Read more.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu engagement has been found to positively impact psychological variables in children, adolescents, and adult athletes. Psychological variabilities have previously been shown among belt ranks in Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to explore the differences in mental strength, resilience, grit, self-efficacy, self-control, aggression, life satisfaction, and mental health disorders among the Brazilian jiu-jitsu belt ranks. Methods: A sample of 420 Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes (78.8% male), including 121 white belts, 118 blue belts, 78 purple belts, 46 brown belts, and 57 black belts, between 18 and 60 years of age, completed the Mental Strength Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, Grit Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Brief Self-Control Scale, Brief Aggression Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Mental Health Disorders Screening Instrument for Athletes. Results: Results showed that Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts presented significantly higher mental strength, resilience, self-efficacy, self-control, life satisfaction, and lower mental health disorders than white belts. No significant differences were found between white and black belts in aggression (total, physical aggression, anger, verbal aggression, and hostility). Brazilian jiu-jitsu training experience positively correlated (small effect) with mental strength, resilience, grit, self-efficacy, self-control, physical and verbal aggression, and life satisfaction. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results are suggestive that Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts are generally more likely to present higher mental strength, resilience, grit, self-efficacy, self-control, life satisfaction, and better mental health than white belts, with no differences in aggression. More experienced Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes were more likely to present higher mental strength, resilience, grit, self-efficacy, self-control, physical and verbal aggression, and life satisfaction than less experienced athletes. Future studies are encouraged to investigate whether the effects found in the current study would remain after controlling for the athlete’s age. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mood and Emotion in Sport and Exercise Performance)
11 pages, 2577 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Anxiety Reduction and Batting Performance Enhancement in Taiwan University Baseball Players
by Yun-Ting Su, Po-Hsun Huang and Tzu-Chien Hsiao
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010065 - 13 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Background: A commonly observed phenomenon is that although the players in a baseball team have received the same training content and volume, their batting performance is quite different. As no optimal solution exists for this problem at present, this study attempted to explore [...] Read more.
Background: A commonly observed phenomenon is that although the players in a baseball team have received the same training content and volume, their batting performance is quite different. As no optimal solution exists for this problem at present, this study attempted to explore the potential of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) to reduce anxiety and improve batting performance in university baseball players. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 college baseball players were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. Both groups answered questionnaires and had their physiological signals and batting performance measured on the first and last days of the experiment (i.e., days 0 and 10, respectively). Only the experimental group received HRVB training between the first and last days (10 days in total). Results: The results showed that before training, no significant differences were found in physiological, psychological, or performance parameters between the two groups. Compared to the control group, following HRVB training, the experimental group showed a notable decrease in cognitive anxiety (before HRVB: 23.56 ± 4.07; after HRVB: 20.11 ± 4.78; p < 0.05) and their batting performance improved significantly (batting score increased from 9.8 ± 11.7 to 19.8 ± 12.0 after HRVB; p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study validated that the use of HRVB can help to improve batting performance and reduce anxiety in college baseball players. Therefore, HRVB can be applied before competition matches, helping the players to perform better. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mood and Emotion in Sport and Exercise Performance)
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8 pages, 235 KiB  
Communication
Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Its Relation to Exercise Behavior and Preferred Exercise Intensity
by Benjamin Lee Webb
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010018 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1111
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Regular exercise is important for overall health, yet exercise participation in the United States remains low. Exercise promotion depends on identifying factors such as personality that might influence exercise participation. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a personality trait described as the tendency to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Regular exercise is important for overall health, yet exercise participation in the United States remains low. Exercise promotion depends on identifying factors such as personality that might influence exercise participation. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a personality trait described as the tendency to deeply process environmental stimuli, is a psychological factor that may influence exercise participation. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine relationships among SPS, exercise behavior, and preferred exercise intensity. Methods: Participants (N = 320) were college students and employees who completed the 12-Item Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, and a question related to preferred exercise intensity. Results: Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 70 years (M = 39.36, SD = 15.15), and they were mostly female (69.6%). Most participants were physically active (77.5%). Mean SPS scores were not significantly different between active (M = 50.2, SD = 10.9) and insufficiently active (M = 51.4, SD = 9.97) participants; however, post hoc analysis revealed that the mean increase in SPS score from preference for vigorous intensity to light intensity (5.18, 95% CI [0.13, 10.2]) was statistically significant (p = 0.043). Conclusions: Exercise preferences are an important consideration for exercise adoption and adherence; thus, these findings have practical implications for exercise promotion, especially for individuals who score higher in SPS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mood and Emotion in Sport and Exercise Performance)
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