title: Mood state and running economy in moderately trained male runners.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between psychological states as measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) inventory and within-subject variation in running economy (RE) in moderately trained male runners (N = 10). Subjects (ages 20-34 yr) were monitored during treadmill running, five times a week (Monday through Friday) for 4 wk, at 2.68, 3.13, and 3.58 m, s-1. Tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, confusion, and a total mood disturbance (TMD) score were assessed every Friday prior to the treadmill running sessions. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was determined via the open-circuit method during each of the three running paces. VO2 values were averaged over 5 d and three speeds for each week (RE) and were correlated with the weekly TMD scores, resulting in a nonsignificant group correlation of r = -0.28. The within-subject group correlation between TMD scores and RE was r = 0.88. This positive correlation indicates that, when the focus of attention was on within-subject variation, weeks featuring more economical values were associated with more positive mental health profiles. Correlations between average VO2 and the six POMS subscales were tension. r = 0.81; depression, r = 0.73; anger, r = 0.58; vigor, r = -0.60: fatigue, r = 0.18; and confusion, r = 0.60. All correlation coefficients except for fatigue were significantly (P less than 0.01) related to average VO2. In conclusion, it appears that short-term fluctuations in RE of moderately trained male runners are closely tied to their mood state.
authors.affiliation: Exercise and Sport Research Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Krahenbuhl
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012420:Running