GEPE presents its research on mental health and sports environments at the XIX National Congress of Psychology of Physical Activity and Sport

GEPE research underscores that environmental support and mental health literacy are fundamental pillars for sports well-being.

Presentations focused on the well-being of athletes were delivered during the event, highlighting the HENAC symposium regarding the sports career support project. During this session, the work “Apoya más, presiona menos: El entorno como predictor de salud mental y bienestar en el deporte femenino” was presented, led by Dorottya Molnár. This research reflects that athletes' perception of support is a key factor for well-being, while pressure from coaches and families perceived by athletes acts as an adverse condition for health and well-being. Also in this symposium, Laia Bertran-Gràcia presented the communication “¿Influyen los entornos en el desarrollo de carrera? Recursos y necesidades para la promoción de carreras duales saludables” using data from four collaborating environments in the HENAC project. Student-athletes positively value the support received in these environments, although a lack of flexibility, sometimes associated with a lack of resources, is detected in certain areas. As a reflection derived from the symposium, which included works by Dr. Marta Borrueco and Dr. Irene Checa (from the University of Valencia), the importance of implementing mental health literacy programs involving not only the technical team but also the family core to ensure integral sports development was reinforced.

Laia Bertran-Gràcia also presented “¿Existen diferencias en la salud mental según el deporte? Estudio comparativo entre modalidades artísticas y otros deportes,” highlighting that, while specific demands exist in early-specialization aesthetic disciplines, factors such as gender and age have a more significant influence on the appearance of anxious or depressive symptoms. These conclusions reinforce the importance of developing interventions adapted to the individual and contextual characteristics of each practitioner.

Beyond these presentations, Marta Borrueco contributed her vision to the expert panel “¿Hacia donde va la psicología del deporte?” where she emphasized the need to combine academic and applied perspectives in a moment of opportunity and responsibility, and appealed for the necessity of professional certification for practitioners in the field.