Exploration Of Sleep Quality And Mood States During Varied Training Period In Collegiate Triathletes

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the periodic changes in fatigue state, sleep quality, and mood states in response to different training periods in collegiate triathletes. METHODS: Thirteen collegiate triathletes with supervised regular periodic training program (age: 18-25 yrs) voluntarily participated in this study. During the period of study, the standardized training logs and diary were provided by their coach, and the training load/volume, Profile of Mood Sates questionnaire (POMS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to periodically to measure and record the changes of our outcome measurements from 3 months in prior to the primary national triathlon competition (total investigating duration: 3.5 months). RESULTS: The monthly training volume gradually increased from 825 to 1176 min in one-month (peaked value) before competition and decreased to 786 min in 2-weeks before the competition. However, the sleep quality (PSQI and ESS) did not show any difference among different training periods. The overall PMOS score exhibited no difference across varied training periods. However, the sub-elements of POMS in depression/dejection and fatigue/inertia were peaked in one-month before the national competition (p<.05), and the tension/anxiety element was significantly increased by 4-folds above baseline in 2-weeks before the competition (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that the sleep quality was not affected during different training period. However, the depression/dejection, fatigue/inertia, and tension/anxiety appear to react differently in different timing patterns in response to varied training periods in these collegiate athletes. Our study may provide the evidence primarily focusing on the student collegiate triathletes, which would be important for coaches to closely monitor the timing of mood states changing across different training periods to achieve better training outcomes.