A multi-component assessment model for monitoring training distress among athletes

We report the initial validation of a multi-component assessment model for monitoring training distress among athletes. Themodel combines measures of mood disturbance with measures of perceived stress and symptom intensity. Altogether, 492athletes completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Cohen et al., 1983), the 24-item Brunel Mood Scale(BRUMS; Terry et al., 2003), and a checklist of 19 symptoms associated with acute overtraining (Fry et al., 1994). Sixtraining distress factors were identified by an exploratory factor analysis: ‘‘depressed mood’’, ‘‘perceived vigour’’, ‘‘physicalsymptoms’’, ‘‘sleep disturbance’’, ‘‘perceived stress’’, and ‘‘general fatigue’’. Comparisons of group means of these factorswith a previously validated inventory were consistent with theoretical predictions and provided evidence of constructvalidity. Internal consistency of the subscales was also confirmed, with Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.72 to 0.86.Together, these findings suggest that this multi-component model provides a sound conceptual basis for the assessment oftraining distress among athletes.