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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
An increase in training intensity could create changes in psychological
and physiological variables in competitive athletes. For this reason, it is very relevant
to know how an intensive training block could influence psychological variables in
competitive swimmers. This study examined the effect of an intensive training block
(HIT) for 2 weeks on the anxiety state and swimming performance compared to
standard aerobic training.
Methods: Twenty-two male competition swimmers were randomly assigned to two
groups: HIT group (n = 11; age = 16.5 ± 0.29 years) and control group following the
standard training program (n = 11; age = 16.1 ± 0.33 years). Psychological status
variables (cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence) and swimming
performance (100-m front crawl) were measured pre-and post-test.
Results: A significant effect of time was found for all psychological variables and
swimming performance (F ≥ 17.6; p < 0.001; d ≥ 0.97). Furthermore, a significant
group × time interaction effect was found in cognitive (F = 14.9; p < 0.001; d = 0.62)
and somatic anxiety (F = 5.37; p = 0.031; d = 0.55) were found. Only a significant
group effect was found in somatic anxiety (F = 27.1; p < 0.001; d = 1.2). Post hoc
comparison revealed that both groups increased their cognitive anxiety and
swimming performance, and decreased their self-confidence from pre to post test.
However, cognitive anxiety increase significantly more in the HIT group compared
to the control group. Furthermore, only the HIT training group significantly
increased somatic anxiety over time, while somatic anxiety did not change
significantly over time in the control group.
Conclusion: Our findings indicated that a sudden increase in training intensity
increased state anxiety more than standard training, but both conditions similarly
enhanced swimming performance. Although the current level of psychological state
is not affecting swimming performance negatively over this period, it should be
regularly monitored by psychologists as it over a longer training period perhaps
could have a negative influence on swimming performance.
Description
Keywords
Swimming training Cognitive anxiety Somatic anxiety Overtraining Self-confidence Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Sports
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Aouani, Hajer; Amara, Sofiene; Sahli, Faten; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Souissi, Nizar; Tillaar, Roland van den. (2024). Effect of intensity training block on anxiety state and performance in competitive swimmers. PeerJ. ISSN 2167-8359. 12, p. 1-12
Publisher
PeerJ