Application of Sport Psychology in Mixed Martial Arts: A Systematic Review

Alexandro Andrade; Rodrigo Batalha Silva; Fábio Hech Dominski

Authors

Alexandro Andrade Santa Catarina State University http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6640-9314
Rodrigo Batalha Silva Santa Catarina State University http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5047-1597
Fábio Hech Dominski Santa Catarina State University http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1767-6405

Abstract

This study, through a systematic review, analyzed scientific production concerning sport psychology in mixed martial arts. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement, and the search was performed using the SciELO, ScienceDirect, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases. Of the 79 studies screened, eight satisfied the eligibility criteria, with explicit addressal of the themes of fear, aggression, emotional control, confidence, mental toughness, motivation, arousal, coping, rational emotive behavioral therapy for MMA athletes, fighting experience and MMA competition. Consequently, the scarce scientific production was found to evidence the need for further research in this modality. It is suggested that studies that investigate other variables of sport psychology.

References

Abrahams, C. (2004). Inspire guidance-based martial arts program: A self-steem intervention for at risk elementary and middle school students. Compeling Counseling interventions: Vistas(4), 193-200.

Andrade, A., Bevilacqua, G. G., Coimbra, D. R., Pereira, F. S., & Brandt, R. (2016). Sleep quality, mood and performance: A study of elite brazilian volleyball athletes. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 15(4), 601-605.

Belem, I., Costa, L. C. A., Both, J., Passos, P. C. B., & Vieira, J. L. L. (2016). O estresse no MMA: as estratégias de enfrentamento podem melhorar o desempenho dos lutadores? [Stress in MMA: can coping strategies improve the performance of fighters?] Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 22, 287-290.

Bottenburg, M., & Heilbron, J. (2006). De-sportization of fighting contests the origins and dynamics of no holds barred events and the theory of sportization. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 41(3/4), 259-282.

Brandt, R., Bevilacqua, G. G., & Andrade, A. (2017). Perceived sleep quality, mood states, and their relationship with performance Among Brazilian Elite athletes during a competitive period. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(4), 1033-1039.

Brandt, R., Liz, C. M., Crocetta, T. B., Arab, C., Bevilacqua, G., Dominski, F. H., Andrade, A. (2014). Saúde mental e fatores associados em atletas durante os jogos abertos de Santa Catarina. [Mental health and associated factors in athletes during the open games of Santa Catarina] Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 20, 276-280.

Buse, G. J. (2006). No holds barred sport fighting: a 10 year review of mixed martial arts competition. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(2), 169-172.

Chen, M. A., & Cheesman, D. J. (2013). Mental toughness of mixed martial arts athletes at different levels of competition. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 116(3), 905-917.

Coimbra, D. R., Gomes, S. S, Carvalho, F., Ferreira, R., Guillen, F., Miranda, R., & Bara-Filho, M. G. (2008). Importância da Psicologia do Esporte para treinadores. [The importance of sports psychology for coaches] Conexões, 6(esp), 419-429.

Correia, W. R., & Franchini, E. (2010). Produção acadêmica em lutas, artes marciais e esportes de combate. [Academic papers about fight, martial arts and combat sports]. Motriz rev. educ. fís. (Impr.), 16(1), 1-9.

Costa, P. B., Medeiros, H. B. O., & Fukuda, D. H. (2011). Warm-up, stretching, and cool-down strategies for combat sports. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 33(6), 71-79.

Culver, D. M., Gilbert, W. D., & Trudel, P. (2003). A decade of qualitative research in sport psychology journals: 1990-1999. Sport Psychologist, 17(1), 1-15.

Cunningham, R., & Turner, M. J. (2016). Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes to reduce irrational beliefs and increase unconditional self-acceptance. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 34(4), 289-309.

Devonport, T. J. (2006). Perceptions of the contribution of psychology to success in elite kickboxing. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 5(CSSI), 99-107.

Endresen, I. M., & Olweus, D. (2005). Participation in power sports and antisocial involvement in preadolescent and adolescent boys. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(5), 468-478.

Gee, C. J., & Leith, L. M. (2007). Aggressive behavior in professional ice hockey: A cross-cultural comparison of North American and European born NHL players. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8(4), 567-583.

Golby, J., Sheard, M., & Wersch, A. V. (2007). Evaluating the factor structure of the psychological performance inventory. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 105(1), 309-325.

Gomes, S. S., Miranda, R., Brandão, M. R. F., & Bara Filho, M. G. (2012). O fluxo no voleibol: relação com a motivação, autoeficácia, habilidade percebida e orientação às metas. [Flow in volleyball: relationship with motivation, self-efficacy, perceived ability and goal orientation]. Rev. educ. fis, 23(3), 379-387.

Gouveia, M. J. (2001). Tendências da investigação na psicologia do desporto, exercício e actividade física. [Research trends in sport psychology, exercise and physical activity] Análise Psicológica, 19, 5-14.

Jensen, P., Roman, J., Shaft, B., & Wrisberg, C. (2013). In the cage: MMA fighters’ experience of competition. The Sport Psychologist, 27(1), 1-12.

Jowett, N., & Spray, C. M. (2013). British Olympic hopefuls: The antecedents and consequences of implicit ability beliefs in elite track and field athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(2), 145-153.

Kusnierz, C., Cynarski, W. J., & Litwiniuk, A. (2014). Comparison of aggressiveness levels in combat sports and martial arts male athletes to non-practising peers. Archives of Budo, 10, 8.

Lazarus, R. S. (2000). How emotions influence performance in competitive sports. Sport Psychologist, 14(3), 229-252.

Mamassis, G., & Doganis, G. (2004). The effects of a mental training program on juniors pre-competitive anxiety, self-confidence, and tennis performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 16(2), 118-137.

Massey, W. V., Meyer, B. B., & Naylor, A., H. (2015). Self-regulation strategies in Mixed Martial Arts. Journal of Sport Behavior, 38(2), 192-211.

Massey, W. V., Meyer, B. B., & Naylor, A. H. (2013). Toward a grounded theory of self-regulation in mixed martial arts. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(1), 12-20.

McCarthy, J. F., & Kelly, B. R. (1978). Aggression, performance variables, and anger self-report in ice hockey players. Journal of Psychology, 99(1), 97-101.

Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Prisma Group. (2016). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4(1).

Myers, N. D., Payment, C. A., & Feltz, D. L. (2004). Reciprocal relationships between collective efficacy and team performance in women's ice hockey. Group Dynamics-Theory Research and Practice, 8(3), 182-195.

Nancy, C. (2009). The Uses and Gratifications of Viewing Mixed Martial Arts. Journal of Sports Media, 4(1), 25-53.

Palmi, J., & Sole, S. (2016). Mindfulness-based interventions in sports psychology. Revista De Psicologia Del Deporte, 25(1), 147-155.

Ribeiro, V. B., Oliveira, S. R. G., & Silva, F. G. (2013). Preditores psicológicos, reações e o processo de intervenção psicológica em atletas lesionados. [Psychological predictors, reactions and process of psychological intervention in injured athletes] Ciências & Cognição, 18, 70-88.

Rosario, D., Kerr, J. H., & Rhodius, A. (2014). The experience of aggression among mixed martial arts athletes interpreted through reversal theory. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 45(2), 79-99.

Schick, M. G., Brown, L. E., Coburn, J. W., Beam, W. C., Schick, E. E., & Dabbs, N. C. (2010). Physiological profile of mixed martial artists. Medicina Sportiva, 14(4), 182-187.

Sheard, M., Golby, J., & van Wersch, A. (2009). Progress toward construct validation of the sports mental toughness questionnaire (SMTQ). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 25(3), 186-193.

Sheldon, J. P., & Aimar, C. M. (2001). The role aggression plays in successful and unsuccessful ice hockey behaviors. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 72(3), 304-309.

Vaccaro, C. A., Schrock, D. P., & McCabe, J. M. (2011). Managing emotional manhood: fighting and fostering fear in Mixed Martial Arts. Social Psychology Quarterly, 74(4), 414-437.

Zakrajsek, R. A., Martin, S. B., & Wrisberg, C. A. (2015). Sport psychology services in performance settings: NCAA D-I certified athletic trainers' perceptions. Sport Exercise and Performance Psychology, 4(4), 280-292.

Zembura, P., & Zysko, J. (2015). An examination of mixed martial arts spectators' motives and their sports media consumption in poland. Journal of Human Kinetics, 46(1), 199-210.

Zivin, G., Hassan, N. R., DePaula, G. F., Monti, D. A., Harlan, C., Hossain, K. D., & Patterson, K. (2001). An effective approach to violence prevention: Traditional martial arts in middle school. Adolescence, 36(143), 443-459.

Application of Sport Psychology in Mixed Martial Arts: A Systematic Review

Authors

Abstract

References

Downloads

Published

How to Cite

Issue

Section

License

Developed By

Information