Background: Adolescence is a critical period of physical, psychological, and social development, during which athletes are particularly vulnerable to stress and injuries. Competitive anxiety has been identified as a psychological factor that may increase injury risk; however, its role among young soccer players remains underexplored. Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the association between competitive anxiety and injury vulnerability in young male soccer players aged 10 to 15 years. Methods: A total of 322 male soccer players from youth categories (Alevin, Infantil, and Cadete) participated. Competitive anxiety was assessed using the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2), and injury data were collected via a self-reported questionnaire covering the 2024–2025 season. Descriptive, comparative, and correlational analyses were conducted using non-parametric tests. Results: A high incidence of injuries was observed, increasing progressively with age category. In the overall sample, injuries were associated with higher levels of Somatic Anxiety, as well as with age and sporting experience, variables also linked to increased Worry and reduced Distraction. When analysed by category, no significant associations between anxiety and injury were found in Alevin players. In the Infantil group, injury incidence showed a slight increase with age and experience, but no association with anxiety was detected. Among Cadete players, injuries were positively related to Somatic Anxiety and Distraction, highlighting the influence of psychological factors at this developmental stage. Conclusions: These findings underscore the relevance of competitive anxiety, particularly Worry and Distraction, as risk factors for injury in youth soccer. The implementation of preventive psychological interventions and ongoing monitoring is recommended to reduce anxiety levels and injury vulnerability, thereby promoting safer and healthier athletic development among young soccer players.

Background: Athletic success depends not only on physical performance and psychological well-being but also on the effective emotional regulation of adaptive processes to prevent sports injuries in stressful situations such as competition. This study analyzes the relationship between emotional state, pre-competitive anxiety, and injury incidence in female volleyball players throughout an entire competitive season. Methods: The POMS and CSAI-2 questionnaires were administered before 16 league matches to 21 high-performance players (mean age = 29.66 ± 5.19 years). Results: Players exhibited an iceberg mood profile with low levels of pre-competitive anxiety. Negative moods were higher at the start and decreased over time, while positive moods increased as matches progressed (p < 0.05). Anxiety remained stable throughout. Additionally, 28.6% of players experienced injuries; injured players showed higher cognitive anxiety, lower self-confidence, and emotional instability, suggesting a potential psychological risk profile for injury, even though group differences did not reach statistical significance. Significant correlations were found between Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) and cognitive anxiety (r = 0.49, p < 0.05) and between vigor and self-confidence (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), indicating a bidirectional relationship. A bidirectional relationship between mood and anxiety was confirmed, highlighting the POMS Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) index as a global emotional indicator. Conclusions: These findings suggest that managing worries, self-confidence, and emotional balance are key factors in injury prevention, emphasizing the importance of regularly monitoring and managing psychological indicators as part of injury prevention strategies.

The relationship between psychological variables and sports injuries is a proven fact in the scientific community. Given its great relevance today, it seems necessary to expand knowledge by considering other less studied variables such as perfectionism or catastrophic thinking, or in samples such as those of triathletes. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between the triathlete's history of injuries and levels of perfectionism, catastrophic thinking, and vulnerability to anxiety. A sample of 99 triathletes (50 boys and 49 girls), with a mean age of 25.87±7.52 years, was used. For the evaluation of the study variables, an ad hoc questionnaire was used for sociodemographic variables and history of injuries, the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (ECD), and the Anxiety Sensitivity Scale ( ASI-3). The results indicate that the vulnerability to social anxiety in the triathlete is the result of the combination of the appearance of a serious injury, the existence of recurrent worries and external influences, the magnification of catastrophic thoughts, that it occurs at a younger age, and that there has been a very high injury history. La relación entre las variables psicológicas y las lesiones deportivas es un hecho constatado en la comunidad científica. Dada su gran relevancia en la actualidad parece necesario ampliar el conocimiento considerando otras variables menos estudiadas como el perfeccionismo o el pensamiento catastrofista, o en muestras como las de triatletas. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación entre la historia de lesiones del triatleta y los niveles de perfeccionismo, el pensamiento catastrofista y la vulnerabilidad a la ansiedad. Se utilizó una muestra de 99 triatletas (50 chicos y 49 chicas), con una media de 25.87 ± 7.52 años de edad. Para la evaluación de las variables de estudio se utilizó un cuestionario ad hoc para variables sociodemográficas e historial de lesiones, la Escala Multidimensional del Perfeccionismo (MPS), la Escala de Catastrofismo ante el Dolor (ECD) y la Escala de Sensibilidad a la Ansiedad (ASI-3). Los resultados indican que la vulnerabilidad a la ansiedad social en el triatleta es el resultado de la combinación entre la aparición de una lesión grave, la existencia de preocupaciones recurrentes e influencias externas, de la magnificación de pensamientos catastrofistas, que ocurra a una menor edad, y que haya habido una historia de lesiones muy alta. A relação entre variáveis ​​psicológicas e lesões desportivas são um facto comprovado na comunidade científica. Considerando a sua grande relevância. parece necessário ampliar o conhecimento considerando outras variáveis ​​menos estudadas, como o perfeccionismo ou o pensamento catastrófico, em particular em triatletas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é analisar a relação entre o histórico de lesões dos triatletas e os níveis de perfeccionismo, pensamento catastrófico e vulnerabilidade em relação à ansiedade. Participaram neste estudo 99 triatletas (50 masculinos e 49 femininos), com uma média de idades de 25,87±7,52 anos. Para avaliação das variáveis ​​do estudo, foi utilizado um questionário ad hoc para variáveis ​​sociodemográficas e histórico de lesões, e ainda a Escala Multidimensional de Perfeccionismo (MPS), a Escala Catastrofizante da Dor (ECD) e a Escala de Sensibilidade à Ansiedade (ASI-3). Os resultados indicam que a vulnerabilidade à ansiedade social no triatleta é resultado da combinação entre o aparecimento de uma lesão grave, a existência de preocupações recorrentes e influências externas, a ampliação de pensamentos catastróficos, que ocorrem em idades mais jovens, demonstando que houve um histórico de lesões muito alto.

Background: The complexity of triathlon goes beyond the multidisciplinary nature of the sport and extends to the physical and mental health of the athlete. One of the most relevant aspects is injuries, which, in addition to the physical impact, can affect mental health indicators. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between injuries sustained by triathletes and mental health indicators. Methods: Sixty-three subjects participated, of whom 48 suffered one or two injuries. The average age was 37.83 years, and the sample consisted of 34 men (39.56 years) and 29 women (32.21 years). The instruments used were an online questionnaire to collect the number of injuries, type, and severity; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A longitudinal study was conducted, lasting six months, where the questionnaires were administered monthly. Results: The greater the number of injuries, the higher the scores in the coefficients of variation of anger and vigor, and the highest peak is found in the variable stress, followed by anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Triathletes who suffer a greater number of injuries have higher scores in stress and depression, and their level of vigor and anger is increased, so they present a more negative and reactive stress and mood profile.

La ansiedad rasgo y otros procesos emocionales se pueden relacionar con la percepción del dolor en deportistas lesionados, lo que puede dificultar las conductas de adherencia al programa de rehabilitación de éstos. Este estudio pretende dos objetivos: determinar la relación entre la ansiedad rasgo y la percepción de dolor durante el proceso de rehabilitación en futbolistas lesionados y determinar la relación entre las respuestas rumiativas de futbolistas lesionados y la percepción de dolor durante el proceso de rehabilitación. La muestra estuvo formada por 22 futbolistas lesionados, con una edad media de 20,32±0,99, cuyas lesiones eran graves y moderadas. Se evaluó el nivel de ansiedad rasgo, el nivel de respuestas rumiativas y la percepción de dolor durante 21 días durante la rehabilitación. Los resultados mostraron que el grupo de jugadores con niveles altos de ansiedad rasgo manifestaba una percepción del dolor significativamente mayor que el grupo de jugadores con niveles bajos de ansiedad rasgo, y que el grupo de jugadores con niveles altos de rumiación manifestaba una percepción del dolor significativamente mayor que el grupo de jugadores con niveles bajos de rumiación. Los valores obtenidos en la percepción de dolor disminuyeron significativamente a lo largo del tiempo, tanto en los grupos de alta y baja rumiación como en los grupos de alta y baja ansiedad. El grupo de futbolistas lesionados con alto nivel de ansiedad rasgo manifestó una percepción de dolor de entre 3 y 5 puntos más que el grupo con bajo nivel de ansiedad rasgo en las 5 primeras tomas de datos. El grupo de futbolistas lesionados con alto nivel de respuestas rumiativas manifestó, en las 5 primeras tomas de datos, valores de percepción de dolor de 2 puntos aproximadamente más que el grupo con bajo nivel de respuestas rumiativas.