Research on changes in psychological, physical fatigue and emotional states in the National Youth Orienteering Preparation Camp
摘要
Orienteering demands integrated cognitive–physical performance, making it ideal for evaluating psychophysiological resilience. This study aimed to examine whether an orienteering-based intervention enhances autonomic regulation, endocrine adaptation, and emotional competence in adolescents. Seventy-two participants (36 in the intervention group, 36 in the control group) completed a 4-week orienteering program, with assessments at T1, T2, and T3. Core outcomes included RMSSD, SDNN, salivary cortisol, PSS-10, PANAS-C, and EISA-24. Emotional profile classifications and moderation analyses were performed. Statistical tests included repeated-measures ANOVA, t-tests, and stratified subgroup comparisons, executed using R software (R Computing, Austria). RMSSD improved from 44.7 ± 13.1 ms to 54.6 ± 13.5 ms (t = − 4.36, p = 0.002, d = 1.12); SDNN rose from 64.1 ± 13.9 ms to 72.1 ± 13.8 ms. Cortisol declined from 0.46 ± 0.17 to 0.36 ± 0.13 µg/dL (p = 0.004). PSS-10 scores dropped from 18.6 ± 4.5 to 14.7 ± 4.0. Positive affect rose by + 4.9 points (p = 0.003); weekly RPE declined from 12.6 to 11.1. Self-regulation increased by + 4.2 points, and resilient emotional profiles rose from 26.7% to 70.0%. Orienteering-based training significantly improved physiological regulation, stress reduction, and emotional resilience in adolescents.
Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered with the UK Clinical Trials Registry (ISRCTN14846325). The overall study commenced on 01 May 2024 and was completed on 28 August 2024.