Temporal Aspects of Competitive Anxiety and Self-Confidence as a Function of Anxiety Perceptions
in The Sport PsychologistClick name to view affiliation
Competitive anxiety and self-confidence were examined temporally in “facilitators,” “debilitators,” and “mixed interpreters” using the modified CSAI-2 (intensity, direction, frequency). MANOVA’s (group X time-to-competition) and follow-up tests revealed no significant interactions but revealed significant main effects for both factors. Facilitators displayed increased intensities of self-confidence, more positive interpretations of cognitive and somatic symptoms, increased frequency of self-confidence, and decreased frequency of cognitive symptoms than debilitators through performance preparation. Time-to-competition effects indicated intensities of cognitive and somatic responses increased, and self-confidence decreased near competition. Directional perceptions of cognitive and somatic responses became less positive, and the frequency of these symptoms increased toward the event. Findings have implications for intervention design and timing and emphasize the importance of viewing symptoms over temporal phases.
Owen Thomas and Ian Maynard are with The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. E-mail: o.m.thomas@shu.ac.uk. Sheldon Hanton is with the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK.
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