Youth, Sport, and Mental Health: Protective and Vulnerability Factors in Early Hyper-Specialization in Sports Contexts

The pursuit of athletic talent from an early age has led to a developmental model characterized by intensity, repetition, and specialization in a single sport discipline. This symposium examines the psychological implications of this model, highlighting both its potential for skill development and its risks in terms of psychopathological vulnerability. From a constructive perspective, the symposium will propose intervention approaches aimed at balancing performance and well-being, promoting sporting environments that foster the holistic development of children and adolescents. Particular emphasis will be placed on the importance of integrating mental health principles into sports planning, as well as on the role of psychology professionals in early detection, the promotion of adaptive mental health, and preventive intervention. In addition, the symposium will explore the role of the different agents involved —families, coaches, and institutions— in shaping these processes, identifying practices that may either increase or mitigate psychological risk.

Among young athletes, perfectionistic patterns often emerge when performance becomes the central axis of identity, particularly in contexts that emphasize success and minimize error. The combination of rigid external expectations, insecure attachment styles, and sport cultures exclusively focused on results may foster psychological hypersensitivity, characterized by fear of failure, intense self-criticism, and dependence on external validation. However, when sport is structured as a positive developmental environment —based on autonomy, secure relationships, internalized values, and prosocial resources— it can promote a more flexible and healthy form of excellence. In this regard, values act as organizers of well-being, enabling individuals to integrate mistakes, sustain motivation, and build a broader and more resilient identity.