Comparative Investigation of Differential Mood Responses among Elite, Non-Elite, and Non-Athletes in Total Lockdown

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The onset of the COVID-19 global health crisis, marked by stringent restrictions on training routines and sudden cancellations of competitive events, precipitated abrupt and radical transformations within the sporting landscape. The emergency alert prompted governments worldwide to enforce various lockdown measures to curb the escalation of the viral outbreak. Recognising the potential psychological repercussions of these circumstances, a rapid assessment of mood states as well-being indicators was conducted during the initial months of the lockdown in the Philippines. A cross-sectional study using Tilly’s (1984) variation-finding approach was undertaken to distinguish mood profiles between athletes of different competitive tiers and between athletes and non-athletes. Employing the 16-item version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS-16), mood responses were collected and compared across 705 elite athletes, 1,702 non-elite athletes, and 1,246 non-athletes. Analysis of mean patterns revealed that elite athletes consistently reported greater levels of dejection/anxiety, fatigue, irritability, vigour, and overall mood disturbance than did their non-elite and non-athlete counterparts. The findings affirm the substantial disparities in mood states between athletes of different competitive tiers and between athletes and non-athletes during the pandemic. Nonetheless, despite the elevated scores for negative mood responses, vigour emerged as consistently the highest among all mood responses across all three groups. The results are discussed considering the unique characteristics of elite and non-elite athletes and the protective role of vigour in mental well-being during adversity. By acknowledging athletes' distinct psychological reactions to circumstances hindering competitive sport engagement, this study contributes to understanding how disruptive health crises could affect athletes’ well-being, potentially informing the development of targeted support programmes for athletes confronting similar challenges.