Managing stress in sports: the Pro-Stress program

Stress in sports has been a major topic of interest, both in terms of research and practical applications. Undeniably, stress can be a decisive factor for athletes’ performance and well-being. Thus, those who have the skills to effectively deal with it are much more likely to perform successfully and to positively adapt to stressful situations. However, gaps remain in the literature, namely how researchers and practitioners can help athletes to better manage and deal with the inevitable stressors they will face. This paper addresses these gaps by introducing and detailing the Pro●Stress program, based on the Interactive Model of Human Adaptation to Stress (IMHAS), which aims to promote stress management skills. With a strong theoretical background, this program is structured around the IMHAS and trains participants in dealing with stressor characteristics, improving cognitive appraisal, and promoting positive reactions, thereby leading to more positive adaptative results. This, in conjunction with applied training exercises and highly individualized tutoring, makes Pro●Stress a sound, well-founded option for those interested in stress management.
This study was conducted at three different research centers: (a) Psychology Research Centre (CIPsi; PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; UID/01662/2025) through the Portuguese State Budget. The CIPsi is registered under the DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/01662/2025; (b) Research Centre for Human Development (supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, ref. UIDB/04872/CEDH); and (c) Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), University of Coimbra (supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, ref. UID/00742/2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/00742/2025.