Critical Discourse and Physiological Performance in Sport Science: A Multimodal Analysis of Athlete Communication, Stress Response, and Competitive Behavior

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_9How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Critical discourse analysis; sport science; physiology; athlete communication; stress response; coaching discourse; performance analysis

Abstract

The intersection of discourse analysis, physiology, and sport science has emerged as an important interdisciplinary area for understanding athlete performance beyond physical capability alone. Communication patterns, motivational language, coaching discourse, and psychological interactions significantly influence physiological responses and competitive behavior during training and competition. This study aims to examine the relationship between athlete–coach discourse, physiological stress indicators, and performance outcomes through a multimodal sport science perspective. The study employed a mixed-method approach involving critical discourse analysis and physiological assessment. Verbal interactions between coaches and athletes were analyzed using a discourse analysis framework focusing on motivational language, feedback patterns, and power relations in communication. Physiological responses were measured using heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol levels, and perceived exertion scales during training sessions and competitive simulations. The findings indicate that positive and constructive discourse patterns contribute to lower physiological stress responses, improved emotional regulation, and enhanced athlete concentration. In contrast, authoritarian and high-pressure communication styles were associated with elevated cortisol levels, increased fatigue perception, and reduced movement efficiency. The study also found that supportive discourse facilitated greater athlete confidence and adaptive decision-making during performance situations. These findings demonstrate that communication is not merely a social interaction process but also a physiological and psychological determinant affecting athletic performance. This study contributes to the development of interdisciplinary sport science by integrating discourse analysis with physiological measurement to explain how language and communication influence athlete adaptation and performance. The results highlight the importance of effective communication strategies in coaching practices and athlete development programs. Future research should investigate longitudinal effects of communication patterns across different sports, competitive levels, and cultural contexts to strengthen evidence-based coaching and performance optimization strategies.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Isli Iriani Indiah Pane
AU  - Yulia Putri
AU  - Bessy Sitorus Pane
AU  - Dewi Endriani
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/24
TI  - Critical Discourse and Physiological Performance in Sport Science: A Multimodal Analysis of Athlete Communication, Stress Response, and Competitive Behavior
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Sport Science, Sport Coaching Science, and Physical Education, and Recreation 2025 (ICOSSCOPER 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 98
EP  - 106
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_9
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_9
ID  - Pane2026
ER  -