Mood States Across a Competitive Season in Collegiate Female Rowers: A Prospective Observational Analysis
Rusne Dziugyte1, Abigail S Sogard1, Emily A Cobb1
1Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
International Journal of Exercise Science
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Collegiate female rowers showed improved psychological well-being and sleep quality as the season progressed. Athlete monitoring of mood and sleep is key for performance and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Psychology
- Athlete Monitoring
Background:
- Collegiate female athletes face unique training and competitive demands.
- Longitudinal monitoring of athlete well-being is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing maladaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine longitudinal changes in mood states, training load, sleep, and perceptual responses in collegiate female rowers.
- To inform applied athlete monitoring strategies for this population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study design.
- Twelve collegiate female rowers completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) twice weekly.
- Collected data on rating of perceived exertion (RPE), sleep quantity/quality, and training distance throughout the competitive season.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in psychological well-being observed as the season progressed.
- Fatigue, confusion, and total mood disturbance (TMD) were lower in the late season.
- Sleep quality significantly improved, while sleep quantity remained stable.
- Higher RPE correlated with negative mood states; reduced sleep quantity linked to increased tension and depression.
- Training distance showed no significant relationship with mood disturbance.
Conclusions:
- Psychological well-being and sleep quality can improve over a competitive season in female rowers.
- Perceptual and recovery factors are more closely linked to mood than training volume.
- Longitudinal monitoring of mood, sleep, and RPE is valuable for athlete wellness and coaching strategies.
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