Positive emotions and executive functions in female youth soccer: Implications for performance and health

Soccer performance is shaped by various factors, including core executive functions (EFs), which are essential for goal-directed actions and have been linked to performance optimization. However, translating EF measures to on-field performance necessitates accounting for influencing factors like soccer-specific emotional experiences. While research often prioritizes negative emotions (NE), growing evidence suggests that positive emotions (PE) can enhance athletic performance and health. However, the specific situational triggers in sport that elicit PEs, such as praise, achievement or team dynamics, remain underexplored. This study therefore aimed to induce sport-specific PEs and examine their impact on EFs in female elite youth soccer players. A total of 47 players ( M age = 15.32, SD age = 1.53) performed inhibition (i.e., flanker task) and cognitive flexibility (i.e., number-letter task) tests in a counterbalanced order with a soccer-specific motor response. Objective (cortisol, heart rate variability) and subjective measures of affective responses (SAM, VAS) were assessed five times, while emotions (PEs and NEs using the SEQ-d) were assessed three times. Results showed no robust effects of the emotion induction itself but revealed a significant three-way interaction (time × condition × first task) for PEs and NEs, suggesting limited and context-dependent effects. Exploratory analyses pointed to greater emotional and motivational stability in the positive condition, consistent with theoretical perspectives emphasizing the role of PEs in regulating stress-related responses. The findings are discussed with respect to explanatory frameworks and implications for future research and applied practice in performance and health contexts.