Psychosocial and Biopsychological Dynamics in Padel Performance: Anxiety, Stress, and Mental Fatigue
Chapter from the book:
Kılınç,
H.
&
Bayrakdar,
A.
(eds.)
2026.
Body, Mind, and Motivation: Psychosocial Approaches in Sport.
Synopsis
Padel has rapidly developed worldwide in recent years and is considered a complex racket sport that requires high cognitive, technical, and tactical demands. Performance in this sport depends not only on physical capacity but also on the interaction of psychosocial and biopsychological processes. This study examines the main psychological factors influencing padel performance within the framework of competitive anxiety, stress responses, and mental fatigue. The literature indicates that athletes’ personality traits, self-efficacy levels, and team communication play a significant role in anxiety management. Moreover, competition-related stress can influence performance through hormonal responses; victory is associated with increases in testosterone levels, whereas defeat tends to elevate cortisol concentrations. In addition, mental fatigue negatively affects psychomotor performance by impairing shot accuracy, decision-making processes, and reaction time. In sports such as padel, where rapid decision-making is essential, mental toughness, self-confidence, and stress management are critical for sustaining competitive performance. Therefore, incorporating psychological skills training, pressure-based practice scenarios, and strategies to manage mental fatigue into training programs is strongly recommended.
