Anxiety levels and physiological responses during top-rope and lead climbing: a cross-sectional study among sport climbers

Sport climbing presents an exceptionally interesting research field for issues related to anxiety and stress. This discipline, classified as an extreme sport, requires participants not only to be in very good physical condition, but also to be mentally resilient and able to cope with high emotional pressure. Theoretical models of self-efficacy and psychophysiological load suggest that individual characteristics (e.g., gender, BMI) and situational factors (e.g., belay type) may shape climbers’ emotional responses by influencing perceived control, physical strain, and risk appraisal. The aim of the study was to assess the level of anxiety experienced by sport climbers. This was a cross-sectional study. The study was performed among 100 people practising sport climbing on climbing walls in three large Polish cities. The study was conducted between November 2023 and January 2024. The research was divided into three parts: a structured interview, measurement of anthropometric and vital signs parameters before and after climbing. A self-designed survey questionnaire and a standardised tool, i.e. STAI X-1 and STAI X-2, were used to collect empirical data. The study showed that climbers experienced significantly more anxiety during lead climbing (40.1 ± 9.2) than when top-rope climbing (33.1 ± 6.3). Anxiety as a state during climbing with a bottom belay was observed at a high level in 46% of the participants. Most participants experienced anxiety during sport climbing. Their anxiety was reflected by physiological changes. The determining factors for the participants’ feelings of anxiety during climbing were gender, BMI and climbing method. In the study group, climbers experienced significantly higher levels of anxiety when climbing with a lead climbing than a top-rope climbing.