Exploring the interaction between sport type and competitive status in cognitive performance.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive performance, including reaction time, inhibitory control, and impulsivity, represents an important component of both athletic and everyday functioning. However, the relationship between different types of sports participation and competitive engagement remains insufficiently understood. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the effects of sport type (open vs. closed skill) and competitive status (competitive vs. non-competitive) on cognitive performance. METHODS: A total of 30 participants, including university students and amateur athletes, completed a battery of assessments measuring reaction time, interference control using the Stroop test, and impulsivity. Participants were divided according to sport type and competitive involvement. A series of two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to evaluate the main and interaction effects of sport type and competitive status on the measured variables. RESULTS: No statistically significant main effects of sport type or competitive status were identified across the assessed cognitive variables. The interaction between sport type and competitive status was not statistically significant for reaction time or any other measured outcome. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in cognitive performance were observed across sport type or competitive status. Future studies with larger and more balanced samples are needed to further investigate the relationships between sport participation characteristics and cognitive outcomes.