Self-Efficacy in High-Performance Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Studies of self-effi cacy in sports have demonstrated its importance in performance. Th ese have been of English-speaking and Latin American origin, mostly descriptive, qualitative, and relate it essentially to emotional variables; interventions reveal its sources and the way to improve it. Objective. A meta-analysis and systematic review of self-efficacy studies in high- performance sports in 2015-2022. Design. Th e PRISMA method and a #ow diagram were used. Th e databases and PubMed. The dimensions of analysis were: descriptions of the articles; methodological approach, and characteristics of the self-effi cacy measurements. Th e keywords "self-efficacy" and "sports," along with their translations into Spanish, were connected using the OR Boolean operator. Th e inclusion of "high performance" or "elite" was carefully considered to avoid unintended exclusions. Results. Th irty-four articles were selected, with soccer and basketball being the most studied sports. Descriptive and correlational designs predominated: increasing relationships between two or more variables with self-effi cacy, the studies that discussed interventions were the only ones that addressed longitudinal studies. In the measurements, those of general self-efficacy predominate according to the tasks faced by the athletes; individual self-effi cacy is more highly valued; strength and generality are considered in the microanalyses. Conclusion. Progress has been shown in studies of self-efficacy in high-performance sports. There remain opportunities for longitudinal studies, instruments with sport-specific indicators, analysis of levels and collective self-effi cacy that will allow researchers to further explain the phenomenon