Evolution of research trends in sport psychology: A comparative analysis of International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) congresses 2021–2025

This article presents a comparative analysis of the evolution of research trends in sport psychology based on materials from the World Congresses of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) held in 2021 (Taipei) and 2025 (Hong Kong). The research methodology included qualitative and quantitative content analysis of the congress programs, abstracts, and reports, which enabled the identification of key thematic, methodological, and geographical shifts in the discipline over the four-year period. The results of the study demonstrate a systemic transformation of the field. A shift has been noted from a reactive approach, which dominated during the COVID-19 pandemic and was focused on crisis interventions and remote support, to a proactive paradigm oriented towards mental health prevention, resilience building, and self-regulation. The role of digitalization has significantly increased: technologies have evolved from tools for ensuring service continuity into a foundation for personalized interventions utilizing artificial intelligence, big data, and virtual reality. An expansion of the research focus is observed due to deep specialization and inclusion, encompassing work with neurodiverse athletes, athlete mothers, and representatives of esports. The geography of intellectual leadership has shifted towards polycentricity, with a marked increase in the influence of Japan and East Asian countries. In methodology, the application of complex statistical analysis, network modeling, and data science methods has become established. Based on the analysis, five strategic theses for the future development of the discipline have been formulated, emphasizing the necessity of prioritizing proactivity, ethical personalized digitalization, contextual competence of specialists, methodological pluralism in education, and the strengthening of global dialogue.