Cross-National Comparative Effects Study of Stress Reactivity and Attention Recovery in Springboard and Platform Divers of Various Skill Levels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57125/FS.2026.06.20.01Keywords:
attention recovery, cross-national comparison, skill level differences, diving performance, sport psychology, stress reactivity, heart rate variability.Abstract
This cross-national comparative study examined stress reactivity and attention recovery behaviour in springboard and platform divers (n = 156) from six countries (Ukraine, United States, China, Mexico, Canada, and Australia) to determine differences between elite (n = 78) and junior-level (n = 78) athletes. Stress responses were assessed under simulated competition conditions and during recovery periods using a multi-method design comprising heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring, salivary cortisol analyses, computerised attention network testing (ANT), and performance consistency measures. Skill level demonstrated significant main effects, with elite divers recording greater pre-competition HRV (34.2%, p < .001), faster post-competition cortisol recovery (28.7%, p < .01), and higher attention recovery indices (41.3%, p < .001) than junior divers. Cross-national variation was observed in baseline stress reactivity patterns, with Eastern European divers exhibiting lower sympathetic arousal (RMSSD: 52.4 ± 8.3 ms) than their North American counterparts (RMSSD: 43.7 ± 9.1 ms, p < .05), and Asian divers demonstrating the highest attention recovery indices (0.84 ± 0.12 vs. 0.71 ± 0.10 for all other groups). Performance consistency under competitive pressure was significantly influenced by the skill level-by-nation interaction (F(5,144) = 4.32, p < .01, η²p = 0.133), with the relationship between skill level and performance varying across national training contexts. These findings carry significant implications for periodised training design, talent identification procedures, and culturally adapted psychological skills training in competitive diving.
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