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11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Stressors, social support, and effects upon performance in golf
Tim Rees1, Lew Hardy, Paul Freeman
1Exercise and Sport Psychology Unit, School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, USA. tim.j.rees@exeter.ac.uk
Journal of Sports Sciences
|November 28, 2006
Summary
Social support directly enhances sports performance in male golfers, regardless of stress levels. Stressors negatively impact performance, but social support consistently improves it, showing a direct positive effect.
Area of Science:
- Sports Psychology
- Performance Psychology
Background:
- Previous research explored social support and stressors in sports performance.
- This study extends prior work by examining these factors in a new context with a specific outcome measure and timeframe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the main and stress-buffering effects of social support on sports performance in male golfers.
- To determine if social support directly impacts performance or mitigates the negative effects of stressors.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 117 high-level male golfers completed measures of social support and stressors before competitions.
- Performance outcomes were recorded and analyzed using moderated hierarchical regression analyses.
Main Results:
- Stressors were significantly associated with worse performance in 8 out of 11 models.
- Social support showed significant main effects, improving performance in all models, independent of stressors.
- No significant stress-buffering effects of social support were found.
Conclusions:
- Social support appears to directly benefit sports performance in male golfers.
- The findings suggest social support plays a crucial role in performance enhancement, irrespective of stress levels.
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