This study was designed to investigate if monitoring of stress and recovery may be useful to detect overreaching in its early stages and may be used to evaluate effects of changes in training load. Nine swimmers were applied the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) in four different occasions (M1, M2, M3, M4) along a 6-week training period prior to a competition. During the basal training period (M1), recovery scales scored higher than stress scales, being the scales General well-being, Social recovery and Being in shape those reaching higher scores. Following the measure corresponding to the second training period (M2), in which training volume reached a maximum, there were significant increases in two stress scales (Injury and Emotional exhaustion), and decreases in three recovery scales (Success, Physical recovery, and Self-efficacy). Values increased again and did not significantly differ from those corresponding to the first measure during measures M3 and M4, in which there was a decrease in training volume and training time. Only a recovery scale score (Success) increased significantly from period M2 to period M4. When the recovery-stress (total recovery - total stress) state was calculated, it was found that there was a significant decreases in M2, and values progressively increased in measures M3 and M4, with no significant difference from M1. Results obtained indicate that the RESTQ-Sport is able to show significant changes concurrently with training loads. Regular monitoring of stress and recovery by these measures may help to detect overreaching in its early stages.

This study was aimed at examining the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport;, and determining relationships between specific and overall dimensions of stress and recovery. A sample of Spanish athletes from various sports completed the instrument. Two factors were obtained in both the general (Sport Non-Specific Stress and Sport Non-Specific Recovery) and the specific module of the questionnaire (Sport Specific Stress and Sport Specific Recovery). A recursive model with a satisfactory fit, in which all factors would explain a total stress dimension, a total recovery dimension and a stress-recovery state, was developed. Results support the internal validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the RESTQSport, and allow for the establishment of relationships among the various different constructs that form the basis of the questionnaire.

The present study examined the validity of a Spanish version of the Participation Motivation Inventory, modified for swimming by Gould, Feltz, and Weiss in 1985, and investigated whether young swimmers differing in sex and age vary in their objectives for participation. Swimmers (204 boys and 224 girls, ranging in age from 8 to 22 years) were administered the inventory. Factor analysis with varimax rotation identified seven factors fairly consistent with previous research. Differences were found across age and sex. Females placed greater emphasis than males on Friendship and Fun and indicated lower importance rating to Status. Younger children (8-10 years) rated Fun/Friendship, Competition/Skills, Significant Others, and Status significantly higher in importance than did the other age groups.

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