Feng-Hua Tsai1,2, Wen-Lan Wu3, Jing-Min Liang3, Hsiu-Tao Hsu1, Te-Yuan Chen3,4. 1. Center for General Education, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 2. Corresponding author: Dr Te-Yuan Chen, Department of Neurosurgery, E-Da Hospital, 1 Yida Road, Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan, ed103626@edah.org.tw. 3. Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is a substantial consideration in scuba diving and may influence a diver's performance and cognitive activities. This study aimed to simultaneously observe the effect of anxiety trait on actual diving performance and underwater cognitive processing ability. METHODS: Twenty-seven scuba divers completed the STAI-T component of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and were subdivided into two groups on the basis of trait anxiety scores ≥ 39 and < 39. Scuba diving performance was measured in a pool. The completion time of four standardised scuba skills was recorded by a diving instructor. The correct completion rate and response time for a cognitive function assessment (number-Stroop test) were measured both on land ('dry') and underwater at 5 metres' fresh water. RESULTS: Anxiety trait was associated with prolonged mask clearing: mean completion time 7.1 (SD 3.2) s vs. 10.8 (5.4) s in low and high anxiety trait divers respectively (P = 0.04). Low (vs high) anxiety trait divers had reduced response times for the number-Stroop test: 49.8 (3.0) s vs. 53.3 (5.4) s (P = 0.04) dry, and 64.4 (5.0) s vs. 72.5 (5.5) s (P < 0.01) underwater. Performance of other skills was not significantly affected by trait anxiety nor correlated with the number-Stroop test results. CONCLUSIONS: Personal anxiety trait prolongs mask clearing and underwater cognitive processing ability but the latter did not affect execution of other underwater scuba diving skills. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
INTRODUCTION:Anxiety is a substantial consideration in scuba diving and may influence a diver's performance and cognitive activities. This study aimed to simultaneously observe the effect of anxiety trait on actual diving performance and underwater cognitive processing ability. METHODS: Twenty-seven scuba divers completed the STAI-T component of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and were subdivided into two groups on the basis of trait anxiety scores ≥ 39 and < 39. Scuba diving performance was measured in a pool. The completion time of four standardised scuba skills was recorded by a diving instructor. The correct completion rate and response time for a cognitive function assessment (number-Stroop test) were measured both on land ('dry') and underwater at 5 metres' fresh water. RESULTS:Anxiety trait was associated with prolonged mask clearing: mean completion time 7.1 (SD 3.2) s vs. 10.8 (5.4) s in low and high anxiety trait divers respectively (P = 0.04). Low (vs high) anxiety trait divers had reduced response times for the number-Stroop test: 49.8 (3.0) s vs. 53.3 (5.4) s (P = 0.04) dry, and 64.4 (5.0) s vs. 72.5 (5.5) s (P < 0.01) underwater. Performance of other skills was not significantly affected by trait anxiety nor correlated with the number-Stroop test results. CONCLUSIONS: Personal anxiety trait prolongs mask clearing and underwater cognitive processing ability but the latter did not affect execution of other underwater scuba diving skills. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
Entities:
Keywords:
Diving research; Personality; Psychology; Scuba diving; Training