CAN MOOD SUBFACTORS OF THE PROFILE OF MOOD STATES DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN LEVELS OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE?

Abstract

This study represents the most comprehensive analysis to date on the ability of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) to discriminate between levels of athletic performance. Hunter and Schmidt (1990) meta-analytic techniques were applied to 45 studies comparing POMS scores between athletes with different levels of performance. Comparisons between athletes and nonathletes were also coded when this information was available. Separate analyses were conducted for POMS subfactors and the average POMS score. The analysis failed to provide strong evidence for the usefulness of the POMS in predicting athletic success, but confirmed the ability of the POMS to distinguish between athletic and non-athletic populations. Results Variable presentation order - corrected effect size (ES), total sample size (N). Athletes versus athletes: 0.11, 2606 (tension); 0.07, 2606 (confusion); 0.10, 3148 (POMS average). Athletes vs. nonathletes: 0.63, 1611 (tension); 0.74, 1611 (depression); 0.36, 1611 (anger); 0.86, 1630 (vigor); 0.57, 1611 (fatigue); 0.46, 1079 (confusion); 0.71, 1738 (POMS average). These findings agree with those of Rowley, Landers, Kyllo, and Etnier (1995), using a pool of 33 studies and different meta-analytic procedures, who also found that the POMS has limited use in distinguishing levels of athletic success.