INTRODUCTION: Biathlon shooting is a complex task that is determined by many factors. Besides biomechanical and kinesiological aspects like stability of the body-rifle system or postural control, psychological parameters might play a crucial role in shooting performance, especially under competition conditions. However, little is known how personality traits and cognitive abilities (mental toughness, cognitive inhibition), actual mental fitness during competition days (perception of stress and recovery), and immediate psychological states before shooting (well-being, perceived exertion) influence shooting performance in biathlon. Hence, the aim of this exploratory study was (a) to investigate whether elite biathletes display typical patterns of psychological traits and states, and (b) how these psychological parameters influence their shooting performance. METHOD: On day 1 of a practice camp period, 22 elite Austrian biathletes filled in the MTQ48 (assessing mental toughness) and the RESTQ (assessing recovery and stress during the last three days). Cognitive inhibition was measured three times (under rest, before and after a training competition) using an Erikson flanker task with 20 congruent, 20 neutral, and 20 incongruent cues. During the training session consisting of six shootings under rest (3 prone, 3 standing), and a training competition with 2 prone and 2 standing shootings, perceived subjective well-being (visual analogue scale), perceived exertion (Borg scale) and actual pulse rate were assessed 5 times, immediately before each shooting and at finish. RESULTS: Cluster analyses (Ward and k-means clustering) depict particular types of athletes with regard to mental toughness (high vs. low), cognitive inhibition (slow and precise vs. fast and less precise performers), stress-recovery balance (good vs. bad balance), and actual psychological state during performance (high discrepancy between perceived exertion and pulse rate vs. low discrepancy). Clusters are independent from each other (Spearmans Rho ranging from -.23 to .38; n.s.). MANOVAs on shooting performance (% of targets under rest vs. performance condition) reveal a significant effect of cognitive inhibition [F(1, 17) = 4.40, p = .045, 2 = .22] with fast and less precise Flanker performers performing better in shooting than slow and precise Flanker performers (89,00% vs. 82,16%). Additionally, athletes with a good stress-recovery balance trend to perform better than their colleagues [88,91% vs. 82,22%; F(1, 17) = 4.40, p = .051, 2 = .21]. DISCUSSION: This study showed that biathletes clearly depict different clusters of psychological traits and states. In addition, the independency of the clusters reflects the complex nature of psychological patterns in terms of personal dispositions, actual mental fitness, and immediate influences on shooting performance. MANOVA results reveal small to moderate effects of cognitive abilities and stress management on shooting in biathlon. CONCLUSION: The complex nature of biathlon shooting is mirrored in a complex relationship of psychological trait and state patterns. Further studies are needed in order to detect systematic interdependencies between psychological patterns on the one hand, and physical aspects on the other hand. In particular, longitudinal data are needed to address aspects of psycho-physical development and performance stability. --- The hosting University of Jyväskylä is planning to publish conference proceedings "Science and Nordic Skiing III". In case you are interested in this publication please contact the editors (Anni Hakkarainen anni.s.j.hakkarainen@jyu.fi) to become registered for the book.
© Copyright 2015 3rd International Congress on Science and Nordic Skiing - ICSNS 2015. 5-8 June 2015, Vuokatti, Finland. Veröffentlicht von University of Jyväskylä; University of Salzburg. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.