Mood states and Achievement Levels of Class A Male Athletes at the 2024 Sabah Schools Sports Council Championship
Abstract
Mood states are transient affective conditions that influence how athletes think, feel, and behave under stressful situations. Understanding the role of mood in athletic performance is essential for effective psychological preparation in youth sports. This study examined the mood states of Class A male field event athletes and their association with achievement levels at the 2024 Sabah School Sports Council Athletics Championship. A total of 120 athletes aged 16–18 years were categorised into high (ranks 1–5), moderate (ranks 6–10), and low (ranks 11–20) achievement groups. Mood states were assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), which measures six dimensions: depression, tension, anger, fatigue, confusion, and vigour. One-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used to compare groups, with effect sizes calculated using Cohen’s d and eta squared (η²). Results showed no significant differences in mood states across achievement levels (p > 0.05), with small effect sizes, indicating that mood explained less than 1% of the variance in performance. These findings suggest that mood states alone may not reliably predict competitive success, as other psychological factors, such as mental toughness and experience, likely play a stronger role. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive psychological skills training in youth athletics, extending beyond the focus on mood regulation alone. Future research with larger, diverse samples is recommended to clarify the role of mood and related constructs in athletic performance.
Downloads
References
Ackbarally, Y., Wilson, E., & Patel, R. (2022). Mind over matter: Insights from elite athletes overcoming adversity to achieving gold for improving junior hospital doctor training. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 99(1172), 511–513. https://doi.org/10.1136/pmj-2022-142201
Angius, L., Merlini, M., Hopker, J., Bianchi, M., Fois, F., Piras, F., Cugia, P., Russell, J., & Marcora, S. M. (2022). Physical and mental fatigue reduce psychomotor vigilance in professional football players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 17(9), 1391–1398. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0387
Basso, J. C., & Suzuki, W. A. (2016). The effects of acute exercise on mood, cognition, neurophysiology, and neurochemical pathways: A review. Brain Plasticity, 2(2), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.3233/bpl-160040
Berger, B. G., & Motl, R. W. (2000). Exercise and mood: A selective review and synthesis of research employing the profile of mood states. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 12(1), 69–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200008404214
Box, A. G., Feito, Y., Petruzzello, S. J., & Mangine, G. T. (2018). Mood state changes accompanying the Crossfit Open™ competition in healthy adults. Sports, 6, 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6030067
Cadieux, E., Gemme, C., & Dupuis, G. (2021). Effects of yoga interventions on psychological health and performance of competitive athletes: A systematic review. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 3(2), 158–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-020-00104-y
Clough, P. J., Earle, K., & Sewell, D. (2002). Mental toughness: The concept and its measurement. In I. Cockerill (Ed.), Solutions in sport psychology (pp. 32–43). Thomson.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Conde-Ripoll, R., Escudero-Tena, A., & Bustamante-Sánchez, Á. (2024). Pre and post-competitive anxiety and self-confidence and their relationship with technical-tactical performance in high-level men's padel players. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6, 1393980. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1393980
Domínguez-González, J. A., Reigal, R. E., Morales-Sánchez, V., & Hernández-Mendo, A. (2024). Analysis of the sports psychological profile, competitive anxiety, self-confidence and flow state in young football players. Sports, 12(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12010020
Haq, I. N., & Kumaat, N. A. (2024). Mood states (POMS) condition profile analysis of senior women's cricket athletes in east java before the north aceh sumatra pon 2024. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 07(01), 574–580. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/v7-i1-54
Heikura, E. E., Aunola, K., Tolvanen, A., Ryba, T. V., & Selänne, H. (2023). Student-athletes’ mood state profiles: The role of sports, sex, and performance level in sports and in school. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 35(5), 836–853. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2022.2158250
Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2007). A framework of mental toughness in the world's best performers. The Sport Psychologist, 21(2), 243–264. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.21.2.243
Kontaris, I., East, B. S., & Wilson, D. A. (2020). Behavioral and neurobiological convergence of odor, mood and emotion: A review. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 14, 35. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00035
Lam, H. K. N., Sproule, J., Turner, A. P., & Phillips, S. M. (2024). Changes in perceived mental fatigue, physical fatigue and mood state during a 4‐day national junior orienteering competition preparation camp. European Journal of Sport Science, 24(2), 226–238. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12071
Lane, A. M., & Terry, P. C. (2000). The nature of mood: Development of a conceptual model with a focus on depression. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 12(1), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200008404211
McNair, D. M., Lorr, M., & Droppleman, L. F. (1992). Revised manual for the Profile of Mood States. Educational and Industrial Testing Services.
Nazri, N., & Salamuddin, N. (2019). Ketahanan mental dan kecerdasan emosi dalam kalangan atlet berpasukan dan individu. Jurnal Sains Sukan & Pendidikan Jasmani, 8(2), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.37134/jsspj.vol8.2.2.2019
Peng, J., Jing, L., Wang, P., & Wang, H. (2025). Mindfulness and self-rated performance among novice athletes in China: A sequential mediating role of flow and cognitive anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1436321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1436321
Peris-Delcampo, D., Núñez, A., Ortiz-Marholz, P., Olmedilla, A., Cantón, E., Ponseti, J., & Garcia-Mas, A. (2024). The bright side of sports: A systematic review on well-being, positive emotions and performance. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 284. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01769-8
Pettersen, S. D., Adolfsen, F., & Martinussen, M. (2021). Psychological factors and performance in women's football: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(S1), 161–175. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14043
Raynadi, F. B., Rachmah, D. N., & Akbar, S. N. (2016). Hubungan ketangguhan mental dengan kecemasan bertanding pada atlet pencak silat di Banjarbaru. Jurnal Ecopsy, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.20527/ecopsy.v3i3.2665
Singh, A., Arora, M. K., & Boruah, B. (2023). The role of the six factors model of athletic mental energy in mediating athletes’ well-being in competitive sports. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2943950/v1
Sun, H., Soh, K. G., Roslan, S., Wazir, M. R. W. N., & Soh, K. L. (2021). Does mental fatigue affect skilled performance in athletes? A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 16(10), e0258307. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258307
Todd, K. R., Olsen, K., Hamamoto, G., Hirschfield, T. J., Kramer, J. L. K., & Ginis, K. a. M. (2023). A comparison of neuropathic pain experiences among paralympic versus recreational athletes with spinal cord injury. Sports Medicine - Open, 9(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00645-w
Trudel-Fitzgerald, C., Reduron, L. R., Kawachi, I., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2021). Specificity in associations of anger frequency and expression with different causes of mortality over 20 years. Psychosomatic Medicine, 83(5), 402–409. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000000948
Vancini, R. L., Gomes, A. A., De Paula-Oliveira, H., De Lira, C., Rufo-Tavares, W., Andrade, M. S., Sarro, K. J., Sampaio, M. M., Viana, R. B., Nikolaidis, P. T., Rosemann, T., & Knechtle, B. (2019). Quality of life, depression, anxiety symptoms and mood state of wheelchair athletes and non-athletes: A preliminary study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1848. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01848
Vitale, J. A., La Torre, A., Baldassarre, R., Piacentini, M. F., & Bonato, M. (2017). Ratings of perceived exertion and self-reported mood state in response to high intensity interval training. A crossover study on the effect of chronotype. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1232. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01232
Wang, W., Schweickle, M. J., Arnold, E. R., & Vella, S. A. (2025). Psychological interventions to improve elite athlete mental wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 55(4), 877–897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02173-3
Yang, L., Zhang, Z., Zhang, J., & Veloo, A. (2024). The relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout in college athlete: The mediating roles of competence and autonomy. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 396. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01888-2
Zhao, C., Wang, K., Li, D., Li, Y., Wang, Z., Liu, Y., & Zhang, T. (2024). Relationship between state anxiety, heart rate variability, and shooting performance in adolescent shooters. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 736. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02062-4
Zhou, Y., Jin, Z., & Wen, Y. (2024). The influence of competitive anxiety of Chinese elite swimmers. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1392137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1392137
