Anna Tápai conducts a research stay at GEPE focusing on mental health protocols in elite sports

The project promotes international knowledge transfer to advance athlete mental health services and support structures across Europe.

The Grup d'Estudis de Psicologia de l'Esport (GEPE), linked to the Sport Research Institute (IRE-UAB), has welcomed first-year master's student Anna Tápai from Mathias Corvinus College in Hungary to develop a three-month research stay program. The connection with the center began last spring following a visit made with a group of students and mentors, which facilitated her choice due to her prior knowledge of the country and the institution's faculty. The main objective initially set for the stay was to investigate mental health in elite sports within the Spanish context, although the focus has evolved following an academic conference in Hungary and the exchange of knowledge with the institute's team.

Her research project, titled "A Review of Spanish Mental Health Protocols in Elite Sport," provides a systematic review aimed at addressing four key questions: which diagnostic tools are implemented, what intervention pathways are available, how extensive the support network is, and what cultural factors influence these systems. The study combines a review of scientific literature with data collected through collaboration with experts at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, focusing on both preventive approaches and the specific roles of coaches, support staff, and family members. Although the analysis indicates that the Spanish system remains somewhat fragmented and highly dependent on specific clubs and high-performance centers, studying these examples offers valuable insights for the development of sport psychology practices in Hungary.

The adaptation process of the project has relied on the continuous support of PhD students and other members of the research group, whose collaboration proved key in preparing her first poster presentation. Beyond academic metrics, the stay in Barcelona has allowed her to experience firsthand the quality of the working environment and the warmth of the local scientific community, highlighting the team's commitment. The research emphasizes the importance of analyzing established models to generate specific frameworks that better respond to the environmental and psychological demands of high-performance sports.