Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers
IntroductionRecent studies have documented the presence, fluctuation, and persistence of mental fatigue (MF) across various elite sports. It appears that open-skilled competitive contexts tend to impose greater mental demands, leading to higher levels of MF. Fencing, as an open-skilled combat sport,...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1512326/full |
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| author | Chao Bian Suzanna Russell Suzanna Russell Suzanna Russell Kevin De Pauw Kevin De Pauw Jelle Habay Jelle Habay Jelle Habay Špela Bogataj Špela Bogataj Bart Roelands Bart Roelands |
| author_facet | Chao Bian Suzanna Russell Suzanna Russell Suzanna Russell Kevin De Pauw Kevin De Pauw Jelle Habay Jelle Habay Jelle Habay Špela Bogataj Špela Bogataj Bart Roelands Bart Roelands |
| author_sort | Chao Bian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionRecent studies have documented the presence, fluctuation, and persistence of mental fatigue (MF) across various elite sports. It appears that open-skilled competitive contexts tend to impose greater mental demands, leading to higher levels of MF. Fencing, as an open-skilled combat sport, requires perceptual-cognitive skills and mental resources allocation for an optimal performance. However, it is underrepresented in the MF research domain.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design using an online survey to capture Tier 3–5 Chinese fencers’ perceptions of MF and their general understanding of the contributors that may induce MF in fencing. Descriptive reports, thematic analysis, comparisons of retrospective MF perceptions (MVAS) and different contributors to MF inducement in training and competition were conducted.ResultsThe results highlight a contextual difference of MF (training vs. competition), and the contributions of timing-related decision-making moments and execution of offensive actions to the MF inducement in fencing. Furthermore, MF was perceived higher in the direct elimination stage competition than in the pool stage (MVAS: 57.6 ± 21.0 vs. 49.2 ± 21.7 AU). Individuals’ health conditions and competition-oriented elements were rated as synergistic factors of MF perception, while external commitments were rated lower.DiscussionThese findings emphasize the presence of MF in fencers and encourage researchers and practitioners to assess and deliberately manage MF. Future studies should involve longitudinal, multifactor observations on diverse fencers and contexts to validate current findings, with a focus on specific in-match scenarios to enhance the representativeness and inform targeted training and management strategies for MF in fencing. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2caed0c1f0c44b7955345d21eaf33342025-08-20T02:11:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15123261512326Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencersChao Bian0Suzanna Russell1Suzanna Russell2Suzanna Russell3Kevin De Pauw4Kevin De Pauw5Jelle Habay6Jelle Habay7Jelle Habay8Špela Bogataj9Špela Bogataj10Bart Roelands11Bart Roelands12Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumSports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies Research Centre (SPRINT), Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaPerformance Services, Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce, ACT, AustraliaSport Performance Innovation and Knowledge Excellence (SPIKE), Queensland Academy of Sport, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaHuman Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumBruBotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumHuman Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumVital Signs and Performance Monitoring Research Unit, LIFE Department, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, BelgiumResearch Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaHuman Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumBruBotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumIntroductionRecent studies have documented the presence, fluctuation, and persistence of mental fatigue (MF) across various elite sports. It appears that open-skilled competitive contexts tend to impose greater mental demands, leading to higher levels of MF. Fencing, as an open-skilled combat sport, requires perceptual-cognitive skills and mental resources allocation for an optimal performance. However, it is underrepresented in the MF research domain.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design using an online survey to capture Tier 3–5 Chinese fencers’ perceptions of MF and their general understanding of the contributors that may induce MF in fencing. Descriptive reports, thematic analysis, comparisons of retrospective MF perceptions (MVAS) and different contributors to MF inducement in training and competition were conducted.ResultsThe results highlight a contextual difference of MF (training vs. competition), and the contributions of timing-related decision-making moments and execution of offensive actions to the MF inducement in fencing. Furthermore, MF was perceived higher in the direct elimination stage competition than in the pool stage (MVAS: 57.6 ± 21.0 vs. 49.2 ± 21.7 AU). Individuals’ health conditions and competition-oriented elements were rated as synergistic factors of MF perception, while external commitments were rated lower.DiscussionThese findings emphasize the presence of MF in fencers and encourage researchers and practitioners to assess and deliberately manage MF. Future studies should involve longitudinal, multifactor observations on diverse fencers and contexts to validate current findings, with a focus on specific in-match scenarios to enhance the representativeness and inform targeted training and management strategies for MF in fencing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1512326/fullcognitive fatiguequalitative studycombat sportsepeefoilsabre |
| spellingShingle | Chao Bian Suzanna Russell Suzanna Russell Suzanna Russell Kevin De Pauw Kevin De Pauw Jelle Habay Jelle Habay Jelle Habay Špela Bogataj Špela Bogataj Bart Roelands Bart Roelands Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers Frontiers in Psychology cognitive fatigue qualitative study combat sports epee foil sabre |
| title | Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers |
| title_full | Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers |
| title_fullStr | Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers |
| title_short | Understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports: perspectives from Chinese national level fencers |
| title_sort | understanding of mental fatigue in elite fencing sports perspectives from chinese national level fencers |
| topic | cognitive fatigue qualitative study combat sports epee foil sabre |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1512326/full |
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