ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026
An empirical study on the relationship between state anxiety, acute mountain sickness, oxygen saturation, and rating of perceived exertion among graduate students during high-altitude mountaineering.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: In recent years, as participation in high-altitude mountaineering has expanded, high-altitude climbing has increasingly become a challenging form of practical activity among university students, particularly among graduate students who experience high levels of academic and research-related stress. However, the physiological and psychological responses of this population in high-altitude environments remain insufficiently examined by systematic empirical research. Objective: This study examined changes in state anxiety (STAI-Y1) before and after a 3-day high-altitude mountaineering expedition at 2,726-5,396 m and analyzed its relationships with acute mountain sickness (AMS), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in graduate students. Additionally, it aimed to provide empirical evidence to help identify high-risk individuals and improve pre-ascent preparation and psychological support in high-altitude mountaineering. Methods: A total of 15 graduate students were recruited for a 3-day mountaineering expedition. The STAI-Y1 was administered before and after the climb. During the ascent, SpO₂ was measured using a portable finger pulse oximeter, AMS was assessed using the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score (LLS), and subjective fatigue was recorded via the Borg 6-20 RPE scale. Data on AMS and summit success were documented throughout the journey. Paired t-tests, between-group comparisons, and multiple linear regression were employed to analyze post-climb STAI-Y1 scores. Results: Following the climb, LLS scores increased from 0 to 5.7, SpO₂ decreased from 94 to 88%, and RPE rose from 6 to 19 ( Conclusion: Short-term high-altitude mountaineering imposed considerable physiological strain and induced AMS symptoms, yet overall state anxiety did not increase significantly. Increases in RPE were also significantly associated with changes in state anxiety, whereas changes in SpO₂ had only a limited impact on state anxiety.
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