Research summary · Mental health
Overtraining, mood and cognition in elite athletes
A systematic review separates non-functional overreaching and overtraining syndrome when examining psychological and cognitive outcomes in elite adults.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review
- Journal
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- Population / context
- Elite adult athletes
What the publication reports
Eleven studies included 461 participants. Mood, stress, burnout and fatigue were altered across studies, while cognitive evidence was sparse and suggested inhibitory-control deficits mainly in overtraining syndrome rather than non-functional overreaching.
Limits and interpretation
Only 11 heterogeneous studies were eligible, case definitions varied and cognitive outcomes were narrowly assessed. The evidence does not provide a diagnostic test.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Effects of non-functional overreaching and overtraining syndrome on psychological and cognitive functioning in elite athletes: A systematic review
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 41580212DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103079Reader discussion
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