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Illness Incidence, Psychological Characteristics, and Sleep in Dogsled Drivers During the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog
Magdalene C Blakeson1, Scott P Jerome2, Neil P Walsh3
1Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
Introduction:
Every March, dogsled drivers (mushers) compete in a 1569-km race across Alaska, involving physical exertion, mental exertion, and sleep deprivation for up to 2 wk. These factors may increase mushers' vulnerability to illness, making them a relevant study population for acute infection risk factors. Specifically, the influence of psychological factors on illness risk during prolonged physical exertion has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological characteristics, sleep deprivation, and illness incidence in Iditarod mushers.
Methods:
Fourteen mushers completed 4 psychological instruments to assess state and trait anxiety, resilience and perceived stress, and self-reported upper respiratory symptoms (URS) in the month before the race. Mushers self-reported sleep duration and URS during the race.
Results:
State and trait anxiety, resilience, and perceived stress did not differ between mushers with and without pre- and in-race URS (P>0.05). However, all mushers who reported in-race URS had reported URS ≤9 d before the race, and the onset of symptoms during the race typically occurred shortly after a rest period. Sleep duration was higher in mushers who reported in-race URS, both before (4.9±0.3 h, P=0.016) and during illness (5.9±1.3 h, P=0.006), vs mushers without in-race URS (3.4±0.8 h).
Conclusions:
This study highlights recent illness, rest periods, and greater sleep requirements as potential risk factors for URS onset during a multiday endurance challenge, whereas psychological factors were not associated with URS.
Insights
Recent illness and longer sleep duration, not psychological factors, increase upper respiratory symptom risk in Iditarod mushers during prolonged exertion. Rest periods may precede symptom onset.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Human Physiology
- Psychology
Background:
- The Iditarod is a 1569-km dogsled race demanding extreme physical and mental exertion, sleep deprivation, and prolonged endurance.
- These extreme conditions may increase vulnerability to acute infections in mushers, a population relevant for studying illness risk factors.
- The impact of psychological factors on illness risk during intense, prolonged physical exertion remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between psychological characteristics, sleep deprivation, and the incidence of illness in Iditarod mushers.
- To identify potential risk factors for acute infections in athletes undertaking extreme endurance challenges.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen mushers completed validated psychological assessments pre-race (anxiety, resilience, stress).
- Mushers self-reported upper respiratory symptoms (URS) and sleep duration both before and during the race.
- Statistical analyses compared psychological factors and sleep duration between mushers with and without URS.
Main Results:
- Psychological factors (anxiety, resilience, stress) did not significantly differ between mushers with or without URS.
- Mushers reporting in-race URS had a history of URS within 9 days prior to the race.
- Increased sleep duration was observed in mushers with URS both before (4.9 h) and during illness (5.9 h) compared to those without URS (3.4 h).
Conclusions:
- Recent illness and increased sleep requirements are potential risk factors for URS onset during extreme endurance events.
- Rest periods may precede the onset of upper respiratory symptoms in endurance athletes.
- Psychological characteristics were not found to be associated with upper respiratory symptom incidence in this cohort.
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