Experiências psicológicas positivas na prática esportiva universitária e de alto rendimento

Abstract

Understanding the constructs of Positive Psychology in the sports context is essential for the healthy development of athletes and their optimal sports performance. The progress and relevance of positive experiences in sports are evident in practice through meaningful constructs related to Positive Psychology and Sports Psychology, two areas that share considerable theoretical interconnection, but which still present gaps in integration with the empirical research literature. In light of these issues, the general objective of this research is to investigate positive psychological constructs in high-performance athletes and amateur university athletes to better understand the relationship between these constructs and sports practice. This exploratory research involved high-performance and university athletes, selected by convenience, who responded to five scales related to five constructs: Resilience, Well-Being, Motivation, Passion, and Perfectionism. The results revealed significant differences between high-performance and university athletes in terms of resilience, motivation, and perfectionism. High-performance athletes exhibited higher scores for resilience and harmonious passion, whereas university athletes showed a greater prevalence of obsessive passion. Furthermore, well-being indicators, such as life satisfaction and positive affects, showed stronger correlations with resilience in high-performance athletes. The literature highlights that resilience is a crucial factor in overcoming adversity in contexts of high competitive demand, often associated with higher levels of well-being and performance. This relationship reinforces the importance of psychological interventions focused on developing these skills, both in formative and high-performance contexts. This project is expected to provide a deeper understanding of the associations between the analyzed constructs, enhancing professional practices and benefiting athletes, coaches, and technical team members of sports organizations. It contributes to a more comprehensive and applicable understanding of Sports Psychology and Positive Psychology, creating opportunities for the development of more effective and personalized approaches to improve the performance and well-being of individuals involved in the sports world.