Antecedents of multidimensional competitive state anxiety and self-confidence in duathletes

The purpose of this study was to explore the situational antecedents of multidimensional state anxiety among competitors in the sport of duathlon (run/cycle/run). Subjects (N = 122; Age: M = 28.3 yr., SD = 7.8 yr.) completed the Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory-2 1 hr. before competition. In addition, they completed a 21-item Prerace Questionnaire modified for duathlon on which scores were factor analysed. Six factors accounted for 73.5% of the variance, similar to those identified by Jones, et al. in 1990. Step-wise multiple regression indicated that race goals and perceived readiness were significant predictors of cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence. Self-confidence was also predicted by attitude toward previous performance. This finding supports the proposal that these anxiety subcomponents share common antecedents but challenges the notion that cognitive and somatic anxiety also have unique antecedents.