Mood and performance in aikido athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the mood profile of successful and less successful aikidoka (aikido athletes). Subjects (45 men, 30.51 ± 8.06 years, and 17 women, 27.29 ± 6.94 years) were administered the Brunel Mood Scale at a regional open aikido tournament in the south of England about one hour prior to competition. A 2-way (Gender x Performance) ANOVA was employed to determine the differences in mood between male and female winning and losing aikidoka. The women scored higher on tension (5.58 ± 2.74 vs. 4.04 ± 3.02) (p = 0.049, eta² = 0.065). The data were collapsed over performance and mood was compared between gender. The men (0.76 ± 1.81 vs. 0.06 ± 0.24) were more depressed (p = 0.015; d = 0.68) and fatigued (3.16 ± 4.17 vs. 1.53 ± 1.18, p = 0.021; d = 0.61). The depressed mood males scored higher on anger (2.27 ± 4.84 vs. 0.24 ± 0.82, p = 0.021, d = 0.72) and were more fatigued (5.45 ± 4.37 vs. 2.41 ± 3.89, p = 0.034, d = 0.74). It is concluded that the model by Lane and Terry [5] was supported by the current investigation.