Profile of anxiety levels, sleep quality and food consumption in karate athletes during training and pre-competition period

Abstract

Karate-do is a martial art practiced all around the world, where performance in sports competitions can be influenced by several factors. Objective: to identify the profile of anxiety levels, sleep quality and food consumption in Karate athletes, during the training phase (one week before the competition) and in the pre-competition period (one day before the competition). Materials and Methods: Twelve Karate athletes were evaluated, 9 men and 3 women, aged between 16 and 37 years old, who represented the Itajaí­ city in the Open Games of Santa Catarina (JASC), in the second half of 2019 in 3 cities that compose the Itajaí Valley. The collection instruments used were: the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) to identify the level of anxiety; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to verify sleep quality; the 24-hour food record to assess food consumption, in addition to questions related to socio-demographic conditions. Results: The present study found that anxiety levels are higher in women while higher self-confidence among men. The total score for sleep quality increased in the pre-competition period and the participants obtained inadequate consumption of carbohydrates and lipids, accompanied by an increase in food consumption. Conclusion: The need for further studies is suggested, given the scarcity of research evaluating these factors, especially in Karate athletes, as well as emphasizing the importance of high-performance athletes having nutritional and psychological monitoring.