Effects of a sport competition on acute affective response in wheelchair basketball players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sport game outcomes on acute affective responses in injured veterans. Twenty three wheelchair basketball players (mean age, 38.39 +/- 11.78 years) participated in this study and were divided into two groups: game winner group (n=12) and game loser group (n=11). All participants completed the Physical Activity Affect Scale immediately before and after participation in the first game of a wheelchair basketball tournament. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to examine a significant difference in acute affective responses between the groups and over time within each group. The losers experienced significantly higher negative affect and lower positive affect at the end of the first game compared to the winners. Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that the experience of losing may diminish the positive effect that sport participation can have.