Predicting performance in ski and swim championships: effectiveness of mood, perceived exertion, and dispositional optimism

Two studies were performed with young athletes to investigate the utility of three psychological tests regarding the prediction of sport performance: the Profile of Mood States. Ratings of Perceived Exertion, and Dispositional Optimism. In Study 1, young male and female cross-country skiers and ski-marksmen in final preparation for the Junior National Swedish Championships were tested. Measured 5 wk. before both competitions, the higher the optimism (LOT), the better performance. In Study 2, which tested young swimmers in preparation for the Senior National Swedish Championships, competitors who had the highest scores on optimism performed less well during the competitions. The results are interpreted to indicate that optimism presents an important factor for predicting achievement in sports.