The Psychological Profile of Ultra Trail Runners: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Objective: This systematic review explores the psychological profile of Ultra Trail runners, analyzing its relationship with the athletes' performance and well-being.
Method: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA Statement, using various databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Psicodoc, Dialnet, Science Direct, and Research Gate. Inclusion criteria were applied (scientific articles in sports contexts that explore psychological variables in Ultra Trail Running published between 2014 and 2024, in Spanish or English) and exclusion criteria (studies of sports contexts that do not address psychological characteristics and that are not specifically about Ultra Trail Running), evaluating the methodological quality through, the STROBE checklist,the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and the Spanish Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASPe). This study has been registered on the international platform PROSPERO for prospective systematic reviews, with registration number 512424.
Results: From thirty-one selected studies, key psychological characteristics associated with Ultra Trail runners were identified and grouped into the following topics: motivation; psychological skills and stress management. Trends suggest that a favorable psychological profile, i.e., an athlete oriented towards intrinsic motivation, with adequate psychological skills and stress management, positively influences sports performance and well-being.
Conclusions: The need for personalized approaches in mental training by sports professionals is highlighted, pointing out the importance of quality research focused on the psychological peculiarities, mental health, and psychological preparation of these athletes.
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References
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