Heart-rate variability (RMSSD) significantly decreased from 37.69 ms during training condition to 21.79 ms during competition condition, indicating increased precompetitive anxiety levels.
Does precompetitive anxiety alter heart rate variability and autonomic cardiac regulation in swimmers?
Precompetitive anxiety in swimmers is associated with a significant shift towards sympathetic predominance and parasympathetic withdrawal, which can be effectively measured using short-term heart rate variability.
Effect estimate: RR 0.58
Absolute Event Rate: 21.79% vs 37.69%
p-value: p=0.047
Relevance. The association between competitive anxiety and heart rate variability (HRV) remains inconsistent, especially when athletes are evaluated outside the immediate pre-competition period. Objective. To examine relationships between competitive anxiety and autonomic, respiratory, and sensorimotor regulation in martial arts athletes during a non-competitive training phase. Methods. Forty athletes (aged 16–27) who practice karate, kyokushin, wushu, or taekwondo were assessed during regular training sessions. Competitive anxiety was measured using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). Resting photoplethysmography (5-minutes, seated) was recorded to calculate linear and nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) indices, as well as respiratory parameters. Sensorimotor performance was assessed using a battery of visual-motor tasks. All variables were standardized using z-scores. Correlation analysis, k-means clustering, and PERMANOVA were used for analysis. Results. No significant correlations were found between anxiety subscales and autonomic or sensorimotor indicators. Cluster analysis identified two psychological profiles: a group with higher anxiety and lower confidence, and a more adaptive group with lower anxiety and higher confidence. Although univariate differences did not reach statistical significance, the group with higher anxiety showed consistent trends towards lower vagal activity (RMSSD, pNN50), reduced abdominal respiratory amplitude, reduced autonomic complexity, and increased variability in choice reaction time. Multivariate analysis suggested a trend towards differentiation of integrated psychophysiological profiles (p=0.08). Conclusion. In non-competitive conditions, anxiety was not related to individual physiological markers, but rather reflected in integrated, multivariate configurations. These findings emphasize the significance of multidimensional approaches in sports psychophysiology.
Kovaleva et al. (2026) studied precompetitive anxiety in swimmers (n=10). Heart Rate Variability Analysis vs. Baseline Training Condition (TC) was evaluated on Change in heart rate variability parameters during competition condition compared to baseline training condition (RR 0.58, p=0.047). Heart-rate variability (RMSSD) significantly decreased from 37.69 ms during training condition to 21.79 ms during competition condition, indicating increased precompetitive anxiety levels.