Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Competitive state anxiety and self-confidence: intensity and direction as relative predictors of performance on a
Sean T Chamberlain1, Bruce D Hale
1Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
Abstract:
This study considered relationships between the intensity and directional aspects of competitive state anxiety as measured by the modified Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory-2(D) (Jones & Swain, 1992) in a sample of 12 experienced male golfers. Anxiety and performance scores from identical putting tasks performed under three different anxiety-manipulated competitive conditions were used to assess both the predictions of Multidimensional Anxiety Theory (MAT; Martens et al., 1990) and the relative value of intensity and direction in explaining performance variance. A within-subjects regression analysis of the intra-individual data showed partial support for the three MAT hypotheses. Cognitive anxiety intensity demonstrated a negative linear relationship with performance, somatic anxiety intensity showed a curvilinear relationship with performance, and self-confidence intensity revealed a positive linear relation. Cognitive directional anxiety illustrated a positive linear relationship with putting performance. Multiple regression analyses indicated that direction (42% of variance) was a better predictor of performance than intensity (22%).
Related Concept Videos
Trait and State Self-Esteem
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Social Facilitation
Self-Esteem
