Correlations between psychomotor abilities and selected personality variables in rowers

Background: The purpose of this study was to present possibilities of using computer tests in the assessment of chosen cognitive skills and an analysis of correlations between the mentioned variables and the level of optimism, self-efficacy, coping strategies, anxiety and perceived stress in Polish national team rowers. Material and methods: The study involved 20 rowers. Cognitive abilities were measured with the following computer tests: the Reaction Test (RT) and the Determination Test (DT) taken from the Vienna Test System (VTS). The VTS has a wide range of psychometric tools to identify the level of athlete’s cognitive abilities as well as personality-related strengths and weaknesses. The rowers also completed the following questionnaires: the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), a measurement of the level of optimism, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS 10), the Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced (Mini – COPE), the General Self – Efficacy Scale (GSES) and the State – Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The study was conducted at the Physical and Exercise Laboratory of Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport. Results: Analysis of the results revealed a number of significant correlations between selected cognitive abilities, such as 1) the reaction time to individual stimuli to simultaneous or sequentially presented stimulus combinations 2) reactive stress tolerance, attention and reaction speed in situations requiring continuous, swift and varying responses to rapidly changing visual and acoustic stimuli and the level of optimism, self-efficacy, different coping strategies, anxiety and perceived stress. Conclusions: The results of the study provide information on psychomotor abilities and characterize some aspects of rowers‘ personality. Further research should include a control group made of lower-level rowers and younger rowers. Future studies should also use selected tests from VTS as training tools.