Wearable and Portable Psychophysiological Monitoring of Stress, Recovery, and Affective States in Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Literature Review of Evidence Published from 2021 to 2026

Abstract

Wearable and monitoring can pair physiological signals with subjective reports, yet convergence between these channels remains unclear. This review synthesized evidence on (1) technologies paired with instruments; (2) convergence and divergence between physiological and subjective measures; and (3) interventions and strategies for optimizing athlete state. Following PRISMA 2020, Scopus was searched with TITLE-ABS-KEY strategy for studies during 2021 to 2026. After screening, 22 studies were included. Data used thematic synthesis and bibliometric analysis. Reporting quality was appraised using FICO, with retention at ≥12/16. No meta-analysis was conducted because designs, modalities, instruments, timing, and outcomes lacked an estimand. Four themes emerged: autonomic load, sleep and recovery, self-regulation, and individualized monitoring. HRV dominated. Physiological and subjective measures were often concordant but differed in magnitude and timing. Person-specific models were informative than group-level approaches. Dual-channel monitoring is more defensible. Future studies should use longer monitoring, standardized psychometrics, independent validation, and adequately powered interventions.

Keywords
  • Psychophysiological monitoring, Heart rate variability, Wearable technology, Athlete stress and recovery, Systematic literature review
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