Research on changes in psychological, physical fatigue and emotional states in the National Youth Orienteering Preparation Camp

Orienteering demands integrated cognitive-physical performance, making it ideal for evaluating psychophysiological resilience. This study aimed to examine whether an orienteering-based intervention enhances autonomic regulation, endocrine adaptation, and emotional competence in adolescents. Seventy-two participants (36 in the intervention group, 36 in the control group) completed a 4-week orienteering program, with assessments at T1, T2, and T3. Core outcomes included RMSSD, SDNN, salivary cortisol, PSS-10, PANAS-C, and EISA-24. Emotional profile classifications and moderation analyses were performed. Statistical tests included repeated-measures ANOVA, t-tests, and stratified subgroup comparisons, executed using R software (R Computing, Austria). RMSSD improved from 44.7 ± 13.1 ms to 54.6 ± 13.5 ms (t = - 4.36, p = 0.002, d = 1.12); SDNN rose from 64.1 ± 13.9 ms to 72.1 ± 13.8 ms. Cortisol declined from 0.46 ± 0.17 to 0.36 ± 0.13 µg/dL (p = 0.004). PSS-10 scores dropped from 18.6 ± 4.5 to 14.7 ± 4.0. Positive affect rose by + 4.9 points (p = 0.003); weekly RPE declined from 12.6 to 11.1. Self-regulation increased by + 4.2 points, and resilient emotional profiles rose from 26.7% to 70.0%. Orienteering-based training significantly improved physiological regulation, stress reduction, and emotional resilience in adolescents.Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered with the UK Clinical Trials Registry (ISRCTN14846325). The overall study commenced on 01 May 2024 and was completed on 28 August 2024.