Armenian athletes lack psychological support, expert warns

Athletes who work with psychologists demonstrate greater resilience to stress and higher levels of motivation, but Armenia continues to face a significant gap in this area, according to sports psychologist Baregham Mnatsakanyan.

Speaking to journalists at a discussion on the current challenges in physical education and sports  organised by the Homeland Party and the Armenian Sports Development Fund, Mnatsakanyan stressed that psychological preparation is a critical component of athletic performance.

“Psychological readiness is just as important for athletes as physical training,” he said.

Mnatsakanyan, who holds a PhD in psychological sciences, noted that Armenia currently lacks sufficient involvement of sports psychologists in athlete development, as well as structured training programmes for specialists in the field. He pointed out that in some sports disciplines, psychologists are not formally engaged at all, although certain athletes seek psychological support independently.

Drawing on international experience, Mnatsakanyan said athletes who regularly work with psychologists tend to cope better with pressure, maintain stronger motivation and perform more consistently at a high level.

He added that addressing the shortage of sports psychology professionals could play an important role in improving the overall competitiveness and well-being of Armenian athletes.