ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH25
INTRODUCTION: Pre-season training is a time of physical and psychological transition for university athletes. While pre-season physical performance assessments are germane, health assessments related to sleep/sleep behaviours and psychological parameters are understudied. We assessed sleep (i.e. quantity, quality and hygiene), stress and mood in university athletes during pre-season. METHODS: University athletes (n=159; 55% male; 20.6±2.3 years) completed an online survey (August-September 2023) including the following validated questionnaires: Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire [1], Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire [2], Perceived Stress Scale [3] and Brunel Mood Scale [4]. Data is mean±SD (p<0.05). RESULTS: Average sleep duration was 7.6±0.9 hours (67.1% reported ≥7 hours) with 58.1% ‘somewhat’ to ‘very satisfied’ with sleep quality. Despite 85.5% exhibiting poor sleep behaviours, 67.7% reported ‘none’ to ‘mild’ sleep difficulty. 77.5% of athletes reported ‘moderate’ psychological stress. The highest mood dimensions were ‘vigour’ (e.g. active, alert) (7.7±3.5) and ‘fatigue’ (e.g. tired, worn out) (6.9±3.6). Sleep difficulty was associated with ‘confusion’ (e.g. mixed up, uncertain) (r=0.412) and poor sleep behaviours (r=0.389). Stress was associated with ‘confusion’ (r=0.548), sleep difficulty (r=0.381), and poor sleep behaviours (r=0.316). Females reported poorer sleep behaviours, higher stress, less ‘vigour’ and greater ‘fatigue’ than males. First-year athletes reported greater ‘confusion’ versus returning athletes which was associated with greater stress (r=0.730 vs. r=0.496) and sleep difficulty (r=0.491 vs. r=0.392). CONCLUSION: Pre-season is opportune to address sub-optimal sleep behaviours and psychological health of university athletes. Sleep education is warranted, particularly for females, to develop optimal sleep hygiene before the academic/competitive season, given sleep’s association with stress. While increased ‘vigour’ and ‘fatigue’ vis-à-vis physical training in pre-season is expected, the relationship between ‘confusion’, psychological stress, and sleep difficulty, particularly for first-year athletes, warrants additional consideration by athlete support personnel. REFERENCES: 1. Samuels C, James L, Lawson D, Meeuwisse W. The Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire: a new tool for assessing and managing sleep in elite athletes. Br J Sports Med 2016 50:418-22 2. Driller MW, Mah CD, Halson SL. Development of the athlete sleep behavior questionnaire: A tool for identifying maladaptive sleep practices in elite athletes. Sleep Sci 2018 11:37-44 3. Cohen S, Kamarck, T, Mermelstein, R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav 1983 24: 386-396. 4. Terry, PC, Lane AM, Lane HJ, Keohane L. Development and validation of a mood measure for adolescents. J Sports Sci 1999 17: 861-872.
Read CV Alyssa FenutaECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH25
Introduction Anxiety disorders, a common mental health issue, are increasingly prevalent and significantly impact cognitive functions. Traditional treatments primarily address emotional symptoms, often neglecting cognitive deficits. Recent evidence suggests that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can enhance cognitive function, but its effects on inhibitory function under negative emotional states are still unclear. This study explores how different HIIT protocols influence inhibitory function in individuals with mild anxiety. Methods This study recruited 45 participants aged 18–24 years, randomly assigned to three groups (A, B, and C; 15 each). Inclusion criteria included: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) ≥50, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) 40–48, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) <600 MET-min/week, no exercise contraindications, and no use of medications that affect metabolism or the nervous system in the past six months. Groups A and B performed HIIT at 85–90% and 90–95% of maximum heart rate, respectively, with 1 minute of exercise followed by 1 or 2 minutes of rest and repeated 10 times. Group C received neutral health education. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Stroop Task, Event-Related Potentials (ERP) data, and salivary cortisol levels. Results Exercise intensity and interval ratio did not significantly affect the accuracy of the Stroop Task (P > 0.05), but their interaction was significant (P < 0.05). At a 1:1 interval ratio, higher-load exercise improved accuracy more than lower-load exercise (P < 0.05). For reaction time, the interval ratio had a significant effect (P < 0.05), with both 1:1 and 1:2 intervals improving reaction time compared to baseline (P < 0.05). ERP data showed no significant main effects for P300 amplitude at Fz (P > 0.05), but significant interaction effects at Cz and Pz. At Cz and Pz, higher load with a 1:1 interval reduced P300 amplitude compared to baseline and lower-load exercise (P < 0.05). Cortisol levels significantly increased only in the higher-load, 1:1 interval group (P < 0.05). Discussion The study explores that the effectiveness of HIIT in improving inhibitory function among individuals with anxiety is influenced by both exercise intensity and interval ratio. Specifically, a 1:1 interval ratio combined with higher exercise intensity (90-95% HRmax) significantly enhanced behavioral performance in inhibitory function but simultaneously reduced neural efficiency. This suggests that while such HIIT protocols can improve cognitive performance, they may also impose greater physiological stress. Therefore, when designing HIIT interventions for individuals with anxiety, it is crucial to balance behavioral gains with neural workload and physiological stress. Future research should focus on identifying optimal HIIT protocols that maximize cognitive benefits while minimizing negative impacts on neural efficiency and stress levels.
Read CV LINXUAN GUOECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH25
Objectives: The influence of physical activity and fitness on physiological and psychological stress reactivity has long been the subject of scientific research. Under laboratory conditions, research has shown that fitness can leads to a blunted stress reaction. In this study, we examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness is effective as a moderator of the physiological and psychological stress reactivity in adolescents during a real-life stress situation (maths exam relevant for the end-of-the year results). Methods: The study was conducted with 79 students (M = 14.19±0.79 years; 49.4 % girls) from grade 8 and 9. Physiological stress reaction was measured via heart rate variability during a maths exam and a normal maths lesson (baseline). Low frequency (LF) was used as main indicator. A psychological questionnaire was used to assess current mood and anxiety. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed with the 20-meter Shuttle run test. Participants were categorized into groups with low vs. high fitness via median split (separately for boys and girls). Stress reactivity was compared via rANOVAs with test-condition as a within-subject factor (baseline vs. stress) and group (low vs. high fitness) as a between-subject factor. Results: Statistically significant condition by group interaction effects were found for heart rate variability (LF), mood and anxiety. Whereas the fitness groups did not significantly differ from each other during baseline, the high fit group had lower LF scores, more positive mood and lower anxiety levels during the stress condition. Conclusion: Cardiorespiratory fitness acts as a moderator of the physiological and psychological stress reactivity also under real life conditions. These findings show that students with higher cardiorespiratory fitness are better equipped to cope with everyday problems. Improving fitness is one possible pathway how young people can be empowered to better master the everyday challenges. Programs are needed that meet young people’s needs and efficiently improve their cardiorespiratory fitness.
Read CV Markus GerberECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH25