Trait and state anxiety in Israeli student athletes

Examined trait anxiety in three groups of Israeli physical education students (N=251): competitors in individual sports, in team sports, and noncompetitors. The measure was the Spielberger, Gorsuch, and Lushene Trait Anxiety Scale (1970). Both groups of competitive athletes were lower in trait anxiety than noncompetitors. In addition, the two groups of competitive athletes were compared on State Anxiety as measured by the Spielberger scale and a physiological measure of heart rate. There were no differences in state anxiety among competitive athletes. Women competitive athletes were higher in trait, but not in state, anxiety. A high correlation was found between the psychometric and physiological measures of state anxiety.