Sports Coach Logo Sports Coach Training Principles Fitness Components

            topics

Profile of Mood States (POMS)

POMS is a standard validated psychological test formulated by McNair et al. (1971)[1]. The questionnaire contains 65 words/statements that describe the feelings people have. The test requires you to indicate for each word or statement how you have been feeling in the past week, including today.

Required Resources

To conduct this test, you will require:

  • Questionnaire (see below)
  • Assistant

How to conduct the test

  • The assistant explains the test protocol to the athlete:
    • Read each word/statement below, decide how you have been feeling concerning the word/statement in the past week and today, and select the appropriate statement "Not at All", "A Little", "Moderately", or "Quite a Lot" or "Extremely" to indicate your feeling.
  • The athlete responds to the 65 words/statements on the questionnaire below - no time limit.
  • The assistant determines and records the athlete's mood state scores.

Questionnaire

Feeling How I have felt
Friendly
Tense
Angry
Worn Out
Unhappy
Clear Headed
Lively
Confused
Sorry for things done
Shaky
Listless
Peeved
Considerate
Sad
Active
On Edge
Grouchy
Blue
Energetic
Panicky
Hopeless
Relaxed
Unworthy
Spiteful
Sympathetic
Uneasy
Restless
Unable to Concentrate
Fatigued
Helpful
Annoyed
Discouraged
Resentful
Nervous
Lonely
Miserable
Muddled
Cheerful
Bitter
Exhausted
Anxious
Ready to Fight
Good Natured
Gloomy
Desperate
Sluggish
Rebellious
Helpless
Weary
Bewildered
Alert
Deceived
Furious
Efficient
Trusting
Full of Pep
Bad Tempered
Worthless
Forgetful
Carefree
Terrified
Guilty
Vigorous
Uncertain about things
Bushed

Assessment

Select the "Analyse" button to obtain a Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) score and an analysis of your tension, depression, anger, vigour, fatigue and confusion. Your TMD is calculated by adding your Tension, Depression, Anger, Fatigue, and Confusion scores and subtracting your Vigour score.

The brackets (x-y) scores in the table below indicate the possible score range, with lower scores indicative of people with more stable mood profiles.

Select the "Analyse" button to obtain scores for each mood state and the total mood disturbance. The test can be repeated by selecting the "Reset" button.

Total Mood Disturbance (-32 to 200):

Mood Profile Score
Anger (0-48)
Confusion (0-28)
Depression (0-60)
Fatigue (0-28)
Tension (0-36)
Vigour (0-32)

Normative Data

Terry (n.d.)[3] provides POMS norms for an athletic sample (n=2086) grouped by level of competition (International standard athletes, club level athletes and recreational athletes).

Group Tension Depression Anger Vigour Fatigue Confusion
International 5.66 4.38 6.24 18.51 5.37 4.00
Club 9.62 8.67 9.91 15.64 8.16 7.38
Recreational 6.00 3.11 3.60 17.78 6.37 4.84

Analysis

Analysis of the result is by comparing it with previous tests' results. It is expected that the analysis would indicate an improvement with appropriate training between each test.

Morgan & Johnson (1978)[2]found that plotting elite performers' mood state results before competition exhibited the graph below. This graph was termed the "Iceberg" profile with a raised peak for vigour.

Morgan Mood State Graph

Target Group

This test is suitable for anyone but not for individuals where the test would be contraindicated.

Reliability

Test reliability refers to how a test is consistent and stable in measuring its intended measure. Reliability will depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual's level of motivation to perform the test. The following link provides various of factors influencing the results and test reliability.

Validity

Test validity refers to the degree to which the test measures what it claims to measure and the extent to which inferences, conclusions, and decisions based on test scores are appropriate and meaningful. This test provides a means to monitor the mood state of an athlete.

Advantages

  • No equipment required
  • Simple to set up and conduct
  • Can be conducted almost anywhere

Disadvantages

  • Assistant required to administer the test

References

  1. McNAIR et al. (1971) Manual for the Profile of Mood States. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.
  2. MORGAN, W.P. and JOHNSON, R.W. (1978) Personality characteristics of successful and unsuccessful oarsmen. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 9, p. 119-133
  3. TERRY, P. (n.d.) Normative Values for the Profile of Mood States for Use with Athletic Samples, [WWW] Available from: https://eprints.usq.edu.au/4385/2/Terry_Lane_JASS_v12n1_Author's_version.pdf [Accessed 30/06/2013]

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

  • MACKENZIE, B. (2001) Profile of Mood States (POMS) [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/poms.htm [Accessed