Background
Adolescent athletes are exposed to high training loads and competitive pressure, which may increase the risk of psychological problems such as sport-related cognitive trait anxiety, mental fatigue, and other psychological symptoms. Understanding how 24-h movement behaviors-including moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light-intensity physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep (SLP)-are associated with psychological outcomes is important for developing effective strategies to promote mental health in this population.
Objective
This study aimed to examine the associations between 24-h movement behavior and sport-related cognitive trait anxiety, mental fatigue, and psychological symptoms among adolescent athletes, and to estimate model-based associations of time reallocation among these behaviors using a compositional isotemporal substitution approach.
Materials and methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 136 adolescent athletes aged 12-17 years (69 males and 67 females) recruited from Wuhan Water Sports School in China. Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors, including MVPA, LPA, SB, and SLP, were objectively measured using triaxial accelerometers. Sport-related cognitive trait anxiety, mental fatigue, and psychological symptoms were assessed using the Cognitive Trait Anxiety Inventory for Athletes (CCTAI), the Athlete Mental Fatigue Scale, and the Athlete Psychological Symptoms Scale, respectively. Isotemporal substitution models were applied to examine the associations between time reallocation among 24-h movement behaviors and psychological outcomes.
Results
SLP was negatively associated with sport-related cognitive trait anxiety, mental fatigue, and psychological symptoms (β = -2.357, p = 0.020; β = -2.349, p = 0.021; β = -2.265, p = 0.027). SB showed positive associations with sport-related cognitive trait anxiety, mental fatigue, and psychological symptoms (β = 1.863, p = 0.034; β = 1.722, p = 0.040; β = 1.663, p = 0.047). MVPA was negatively associated with cognitive trait anxiety and psychological symptoms (β = -1.831, p = 0.037; β = -1.662, p = 0.049), but positively associated with mental fatigue (β = 1.674, p = 0.045). In addition, LPA was negatively associated with mental fatigue (β = -1.669, p = 0.043).
Conclusion
24-h movement behaviors were closely associated with psychological health among adolescent athletes. Reallocating time from SB to SLP may be associated with better psychological well-being. Schools, coaches, and parents should pay greater attention to the comprehensive influence of daily movement behavior patterns on the mental health of adolescent athletes.