Tobar, D. A., & Morgan, W. P. (2002). Gender, trait anxiety and mood state responses to overtraining in college swimmers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 905.

College swimmers (M = 218; F = 140) completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a subset of Ss (N = 222) also completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) at seven different times across each of seven competitive seasons.

Women consistently reported higher trait anxiety than men. As training volume increased, tension and total mood scores on the POMS increased significantly. During taper, total mood scores reverted to baseline but tension scores remained elevated. Women increased in tension during taper but men remained stable.

Implication. Female college swimmers differ in trait anxiety and global mood scores to male swimmers. Differences also exist during taper. The psychological states of female swimmers differ to males suggesting that different coaching approaches are required for each gender.

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