Bodybuilding: gender-based differences in mood and pre-competition anxiety

Abstract

This study sets out to analyse gender-related distinguishing aspects present during moments prior to a bodybuilding competition. A total of 92 competitive bodybuilders (52 men and 40 women) took part in the study. The average age of the participants was 29.16 years (SD = 5.61) and they had trained for an average of 8.03 years (SD = 4.79). During the pre-competition weigh-in of the participants, we measured their anxiety levels using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 questionnaire (CSAI-2) by Martens, Vealy and Burton (1990) and their mood using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire (POMS) by McNair, Lorr and Droplemann (1971). In the results of the CSAI-2, women showed higher levels of self-confidence (t = 3.57, p = .001) and lower levels of somatic anxiety (t = 2.86, p = .005). There were no differences between men and women in cognitive anxiety scores (t = .430, p = .67). In the results of the POMS questionnaire, men obtained higher scores in the tension-anxiety (t = 2.74, p = .007), depression-dejection (t = 2.91, p = .005), anger-hostility (t = 3.23, p = .002), fatigue (t = 3.79, p < .001) and confusion subscales (t = 4.35, p < .001). However, women achieved higher scores in the vigour subscale (t = 3.68, p < .001). In the future, further studies with this population of athletes will be needed. In addition, seeming initial contradictions with results obtained by women from other disciplines must be addressed.