From Stress to Laughter
Development of a Sport-Specific Card Game
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21629917 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Krisztina Kovács (0000-0003-0560-5861, Hungarian University of Sports Science), Krisztina Filepné Kovács (0000-0002-5471-5955, Hungarian School Sport Federation, corresponding author), Borbála Csapó-Bajnok (Pál Harrer Elementary School of Óbuda Teaching English Language at Advanced Level), Regina Balázs (Budapesti Honvéd Basketball Academy), Emőke Karikás (Independent researcher), Tünde Neugam (Hungarian Dance University), Eszter Bálint (Semmelweis University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-05 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Simulation & Gaming (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1046-8781 • E-ISSN: 1552-826X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/10468781261422073 |
| OpenAlex | W7127971830 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 34 |
Background Achieving high performance under stress is fundamental in competitive sports. Professional athletes will frequently develop various adaptive coping strategies, including humour, to manage stressors. Objectives Our research group aimed to create a sport-specific card game as a practical tool for helping athletes manage stress in a relatable and engaging format. Methods During development, three studies were conducted. In Study 1 (n=39), negative and sometime humorous life events relevant to sporting and athletic experiences were gathered through an online survey. In Study 2 (n=170), a selected number of events were rated by athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists based on the perceived level of stress. In Study 3 (n=24), two pilot groups of athletes tested the game, providing qualitative feedback which was used to refine the game rules. Results and Conclusions Results indicate that the game effectively facilitated conversations about challenging topics, decreased subjective stress perception by means of humour, and fostered an enhanced sense of empathy and cohesion among players. These findings suggest the game could be a valuable resource for sport psychologists, offering an innovative approach to stress management, resilience-building, and promoting positive team dynamics in competitive sports contexts
Athletes · Empathy · Group cohesiveness · Perception · Media Influence and Health · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Sport Psychology and Performance
The Mental Health of Elite Athletes
The Social Psychology of Humor
The Point of Triangulation
Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1
Coping, emotion regulation, and psychopathology in childhood and adolescence
Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being
Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressors and moods
Stigma, menstrual etiquette, and identity work
Critical Qualitative Inquiry
Comprehensive Overview of the Problem of Violence Against Athletes in Sport
| Highly cited | No |
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