THE ACUTE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION IN SPORT ON MOOD - THE IMPORTANCE OF LEVEL OF ANTAGONISTIC PHYSICAL INTERACTION

Volunteer male students (N = 109; age 18-24 years) performed sports wi th a low, medium, or high level of antagonistic physical interaction' (API); easy running in small groups, basketball and rugby, respectivel y. They were randomly allocated to the experimental conditions within their regular physical education activities. The Stress-Arousal Checkl ist (SACL) and the Tension and Effort Stress Inventory (TESI) were com pleted pre- and post-sport sessions. Results from ANOVA and ANCOVA ana lyses showed that self-reported arousal (SACL) increased in all condit ions. SACL stress scores increased with high level API. Mean positive mood scores (TESI) for all three conditions were approximately double those for unpleasant mood scores. There was an overall decrease in ple asant moods pre- to post-sport activity. Unpleasant mood scores decrea sed with low API (easy running), remained unchanged with medium API (b asketball) and increased with high API (rugby). High levels of API pro voked the strongest changes in mood with a reduction in pleasant moods and an increase in unpleasant moods. Performance under conditions of high level API provoked a significant increase in 'internal' (one's ow n body) stressors and related efforts to cope, whereas performance und er conditions of low level API caused a significant decreased in 'exte rnal' (situational) stressors and related efforts to cope. The results point to the importance of 'field' comparisons of sport in the assess ment of acute participation-induced mood changes.