Effects of mental training interventions on self-confidence and psychological performance in table tennis athletes: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Self-confidence and related psychological competencies are widely regarded as decisive determinants of success in table tennis, a fast and tactically dense racket sport in which cognitive-affective control frequently separates players of comparable technical ability. Despite growing empirical interest, evidence on how deliberate mental training shapes confidence and psychological performance in this population has not been consolidated. This systematic literature review synthesises peer-reviewed evidence on the types of mental training applied to table tennis athletes and their effects on self-confidence and psychological performance. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 framework, searching the Scopus database and identifying 1,703 records published between 2021 and 2025. After duplicate removal and sequential title–abstract and full-text screening against predefined eligibility criteria, eighteen studies were retained for qualitative synthesis. Thematic analysis showed that structured mental-skills programmes, particularly visuo-motor behaviour rehearsal and mindfulness, consistently reduced competitive anxiety and enhanced mental toughness, whereas confidence, self-efficacy, motivation, and resilience emerged as robust correlates of technical accuracy and competitive performance. The findings advance a cognitive-affective account of table tennis expertise and offer actionable guidance for coaches, while underscoring the need for larger randomised trials and standardised confidence measures.