A scoping review of heart rate variability in sport and exercise psychology

Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP) often adopts physiological markers in theory practice, one measure receiving increasing attention is heart rate variability (HRV). This paper aimed to provide a scoping review of the use HRV within SEP. The protocol was made available on Open Science Framework. Study inclusion criteria were examination SEP, using athletes or healthy populations, peer-reviewed published English. Exclusion non-peer reviewed work, animal studies, clinical conference papers. In February 2022 systematic search Web Science, PubMed Discus identified 118 studies (4979 participants) sport psychology (71) exercise (47). Risk bias assessed via Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis revealed that range topics such as stress, overtraining, anxiety, biofeedback, cognitive performance, sporting performance. Three key limitations field discovered: limited application theoretical frameworks, methodological issues with measurement, differing interpretations results. Future research should vagally-mediated marker self-regulation adaptation consult relevant theories prior hypothesis development, follow guidelines for HRV.