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Predicting anxiety in competitive sports
D M Williams1, M L Frank, D Lester
1The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona 08240-0195, USA.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|July 7, 2000
Summary
Winning attitudes and competitive anxiety in student athletes were examined. Self-confidence significantly predicted cognitive anxiety, while both self-confidence and competition importance predicted somatic anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Sports Psychology
- Sport Psychology
- Psychology of Sport
Background:
- Competitive anxiety is a common experience for athletes.
- Understanding factors influencing competitive anxiety is crucial for performance.
- Attitudes toward winning may play a role in athlete anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between attitudes toward winning and competitive anxiety.
- To identify predictors of cognitive and somatic anxiety in student athletes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 59 undergraduate student athletes.
- Participants competed in NCAA Division III sports.
- Backward multiple regression analysis was used.
Main Results:
- Self-confidence was a significant predictor of cognitive anxiety.
- Self-confidence and the rated importance of the competition predicted somatic anxiety.
- Attitudes toward winning did not directly predict anxiety components.
Conclusions:
- Self-confidence is a key factor in managing cognitive anxiety.
- Both self-confidence and perceived competition importance influence somatic anxiety.
- Further research could explore the nuanced role of winning attitudes in competitive anxiety.