Psychological self-report questionnaires are not associated with decrements in physical performance following Special Operations Forces unit training.
In a study of 54 male active-duty SOF operators, an 8-month training phase led to decrements in body fat, agility, vertical jump, anaerobic capacity, and sprint times, with improvements in isometric midthigh pull and pain subscales. However, correlations between changes in psychological self-report measures (depression, sleep quality, alertness, post-traumatic stress, pain) and performance changes were mostly weak and inconsistent, with only a few significant correlations (e.g., agility with alertness; aerobic capacity with alertness; post-training agility with depression; post-training anaerobic capacity with overall pain; post-training sprints with sleep quality). The authors conclude that PSR tools should be used with caution as screens for nonfunctional overreaching in SOF.
Evidence Score
Study Evidence
Study 1. Psychological Self-Report Questionnaires Are Not Associated With Decrements in Physical Performance Following Special Operations Forces Unit Training.
observationalRoss JA, Rooks DL, Winters JD, Royer SD, Hoch MC, Bergin R, Morelli N, Conley C, Djafar TE, Sheppard R, Flaherty CW, Heebner NR · Journal of strength and conditioning research (2026)
Result:
Mechanism Graph
Limitations
- ⚠Correlational design cannot establish causation between PSR and performance changes
- ⚠Small sample size (n=54) and single-sex (male) population limit generalizability
- ⚠Only a subset of correlations were significant, and many were weak, suggesting limited clinical utility
Frequently Asked Questions
What is nonfunctional overreaching (nFOR)?▼
Nonfunctional overreaching is a state of excessive training stress leading to performance decrements that do not resolve with short-term recovery, often considered a precursor to overtraining syndrome.
Why are psychological self-report questionnaires used in SOF training?▼
These tools are commonly used to monitor athlete well-being and detect early signs of overreaching or overtraining, but this study suggests they may not be reliable in Special Operations Forces settings.
What performance measures changed after the 8-month training?▼
Significant decrements were observed in body fat, agility, vertical jump, anaerobic capacity, and 10- and 30-yard sprint times, while isometric midthigh pull and pain subscales for sleep, mood, and stress improved.
Should coaches rely on PSR questionnaires to screen for overreaching in SOF?▼
The study advises caution, as correlations between PSR and performance changes were weak and inconsistent, suggesting other screening methods may be more sensitive.
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References
- 1.Ross JA, Rooks DL, Winters JD, Royer SD, Hoch MC, Bergin R, Morelli N, Conley C, Djafar TE, Sheppard R, Flaherty CW, Heebner NR. "Psychological Self-Report Questionnaires Are Not Associated With Decrements in Physical Performance Following Special Operations Forces Unit Training.." Journal of strength and conditioning research, 2026. PMID: 42489479 DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005436