Mental core: Strengthening self-efficacy and emotional stability in elite youth athletes

Alina ROBU , Alina Diana NEMES

Neurofeedback, Elite Youth Athletes, Self-Efficacy, Athletic Resilience, Heart Rate Variability, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Performance Anxiety

The transition from youth academies to professional senior rosters represents a critical developmental juncture characterized by escalated competitive pressure and heightened performance anxiety. The MENTAL CORE study investigated the efficacy of a multimodal neurotechnological intervention designed to consolidate athletic self-efficacy and emotional stability in elite youth athletes (U18–U21). In a randomized controlled clinical trial (N=40), the experimental group (n=20) underwent an intensive eight-session protocol integrating EEG neurofeedback (targeting Brodmann Areas 10, 24, and 46), transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback, photobiomodulation, and binaural beat therapy. Results demonstrated a significant divergence between the experimental and control groups. The neuro-active cohort exhibited a substantial increase in perceived self-efficacy (GSE scores), a 60% reduction in performance anxiety (SAS/STAI-Y), and a 70% improvement in neuro-cardiac coherence. Most notably, the intervention achieved a 300% increase in the clinical resilience index compared to traditional psychological methods. Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) confirmed stabilized cortical activation in regions governing self-image and decisional clarity. These findings suggest that athletic resilience and confidence are not merely innate traits but are trainable neurophysiological functions. The MENTAL CORE protocol establishes a clinical bridge for elite organizations, providing a proactive strategy for talent preservation and the prevention of psychological burnout during professional transitions.

Published Paper   E-Certificate

"Mental core: Strengthening self-efficacy and emotional stability in elite youth athletes", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.11, Issue 2, page no.a385-a396, February-2026, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2602049.pdf

Volume 11 Issue 2, February-2026

Pages : a385-a396

Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_307255

Published Paper Id: IJSDR2602049

Downloads: 000185

Research Area: Health Science All

Country: Iasi, Iasi, Romania

Published Paper PDF: https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2602049

Published Paper URL: https://ijsdr.org/viewpaperforall?paper=IJSDR2602049

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56975/ijsdr.v11i2.307255

ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016

An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.15 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator

Publisher: IJSDR(IJ Publication) Janvi Wave

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