From Theory to Impact:Practical Applications of the PPCT Model in Sport and Dance Psychology

Purpose: This final presentation will synthesise insights across the symposium to demonstrate how Bronfenbrenner’s PPCT model can guide future research and practice in sport and dance psychology.<br/><br/>Background: Drawing on studies in higher education dance, women athletes’ teammate compassion, and elite Paralympic contexts, we will discuss how the PPCT model can support a more nuanced understanding of how individual experiences are shaped by dynamic, multi-layered systems over time.<br/><br/>Methods: We will argue that the PPCT model holds untapped potential to identify risk and protective factors for mental health, offering a framework for designing preventative, comprehensive, and context-sensitive interventions. Future research will be encouraged to transparently map the model, even when not all components are assessed, and to justify the selection of specific variables and PPCT elements. We will advocate for co-design approaches, where researchers work with participants to identify what matters in their lived contexts. We will highlight the importance of balancing feasibility with conceptual rigour. While it may not be realistic to capture all PPCT components in a single study, acknowledging what is within scope, and what could be addressed in future work, will foster clarity and help researchers build on each other’s work more effectively.<br/><br/>Conclusions: Aligned with the conference theme, we will position the PPCT model as a strategic framework for expanding the value and direction of our field. We will call on researchers and practitioners to adopt systems thinking to generate meaningful, sustainable impact and co-create knowledge that reflects the complexity of sport and dance environments.