Antecedents of state anxiety in rugby

The purpose of this study was to extend research investigating the antecedents of multidimensional state anxiety into the sport of rugby. Participants (N = 86; age: M = 23.7 yr., SD = 4.8 yr.) completed a 10-item Prematch Questionnaire developed to assess the antecedents of anxiety and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 1 hr. prior to competition. Factor analysis of intercorrelations of scores on the Prematch Questionnaire indicated that three factors accounted for 63.3% of the variance. These were labelled Perceived Readiness, Match Conditions, and Coach Influence. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that Perceived Readiness predicted rated Self-confidence and Somatic Anxiety. Game conditions also predicted Self-confidence. Collectively, these factors accounted for 30% of Self-confidence and 11% of Somatic Anxiety. No factor predicted Cognitive Anxiety. Findings support the notion that each sport has unique stressors and that researchers should seek sport-specific measures of the antecedents of anxiety.