Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Aims & Scope

Psychology of Sport and Exercise is an international forum for scholarly reports in the psychology of sport and exercise, broadly defined.

The journal is open to the use of diverse methodological approaches.

Manuscripts that will be considered for publication will present results from high quality empirical research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, commentaries concerning already published PSE papers or topics of general interest for PSE readers, protocol papers for trials, and reports of professional practice (which will need to demonstrate academic rigour and go beyond mere description).

The CONSORT guidelines consort-statement need to be followed for protocol papers for trials; authors should present a flow diagramme and attach with their cover letter the CONSORT checklist.

For meta-analysis, the PRISMA prisma-statement guidelines should be followed; authors should present a flow diagramme and attach with their cover letter the PRISMA checklist.

For systematic reviews it is recommended that the PRISMA guidelines are followed, although it is not compulsory.

Authors interested in submitting replications of published studies need to contact the Editors-in-Chief before they start their replication.

We are not interested in manuscripts that aim to test the psychometric properties of an existing scale from English to another language, unless new validation methods are used which address previously unanswered research questions.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	3.3

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	1.450

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	125

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	2539

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	2397

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Health Professions and Psychology, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: An updated review of reviews and an analysis of causality

  Citation: 873

  Authors: Stuart J.H., Simone, George, Ineke

• Defining elite athletes: Issues in the study of expert performance in sport psychology

  Citation: 714

  Authors: Christian, Aidan, David

• The ecological dynamics of decision making in sport

  Citation: 545

  Authors: Duarte, Keith, Robert

• Do perceived autonomy-supportive and controlling teaching relate to physical education students' motivational experiences through unique pathways? Distinguishing between the bright and dark side of motivation

  Citation: 502

  Authors: Leen, Nathalie, Maarten, Bart, Stijn

• A grounded theory of psychological resilience in Olympic champions

  Citation: 467

  Authors: David, Mustafa

• Acute affective response to a moderate-intensity exercise stimulus predicts physical activity participation 6 and 12 months later

  Citation: 460

  Authors: David M., Shira, Joseph T., Beth A., Anna E., Bess H.

• Toward a comprehensive model of physical activity

  Citation: 450

  Authors: John C, Rebecca E

• Judging the quality of qualitative inquiry: Criteriology and relativism in action

  Citation: 441

  Authors: Andrew C., Brett

• Construct validity of the Profile of Mood States — Adolescents for use with adults

  Citation: 417

  Authors: P.C, A.M, G.J

• The effect of acute aerobic exercise on positive activated affect: A meta-analysis

  Citation: 392

  Authors: Justy, Deniz S.

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