Application of mood states validation instruments in the detection of the overtraining syndrome

• Published in: Revista brasileira de medicina do esporte Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 117 - 121
• Main Authors: de Miranda Rohlfs, ICP, de Carvalho, T, Rotta, T M, Krebs, R J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: 01-04-2004
• ISSN: 1517-8692

The pressures tempted by the exigencies from the competitive sport lead many athletes to exceed the limits of their physical and psychological capacity, causing the manifestation of overtraining syndrome. The purpose of this review article is to discuss, through the original material, the validation process of the Profile of Mood States-Adolescents (POMS-A) for use with adults super((1)). This instrument was developed to serve as a brief measure of mood states among adolescents and adult populations, and had already demonstrated, in recent researches, effectiveness in the diagnosis of these altered states by intensive training. The POMS-A was administered to adult athletes prior to competition, adult student athletes, adolescent athletes prior to competition, and adolescent students. A subset of adult student athletes was used to test the criterion validity of the POMS-A. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the factorial validity of 24-item, six-factor model using both independent and multi-sample analyses. Relationships between POMS-A scores and previously validated measures, that were consistent with theoretical predictions, supported the criterion validity. Evidences were found in support of the psychometric integrity of the POMS-A when extended from adolescent to adult populations. It is suggested that the POMS-A is an appropriate tool with which mood profiles will be tested, besides the brevity of the test facilitates data collection in research environments. Subsequent studies aim the validation and applicability of the instrument BRUMS (current name of the POMS-A) in detection of overtraining syndrome in Brazilian athletes, for what already exists authorization by the authors Terry, Lane and Fogarty.