When the audience matters: a systematic review of spectator influence on sports performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v70.116288Keywords:
social facilitation, audiance effect, systematic literature review, sport, performanceAbstract
Introduction: The presence of spectators in sport has long been believed to influence athletes' performance, both as a source of motivation and psychological pressure. This phenomenon is explained through social facilitation theory, which states that social presence can enhance or decrease performance.
Objective: This study aimed to map recent empirical evidence on the influence of spectator, opponents and peer presence on athlete’s performance, and evaluate the relevance of social facilitation theory in the modern sport context.
Methodology: The study used the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method with the PRISMA approach. Literature was obtained through the Scopus database.
Results: The results showed that the presence of opponents (competitors) tends to improve athlete performance in competitive situations.
Conclusions: Social presence is an important determinant of sports performance. The effect is contextual, depending on task complexity and individual preparedness. This research emphasizes the importance of extending the study to more diverse cultural contexts, including Indonesia, as well as integrating social aspects in the design of training and sport interventions.
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