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Attentional focus during the execution of perceptual motor tasks has been shown to affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the physiological changes prompted by attentional focus in various levels of stress. Thirty-six healthy young males and females were randomized into groups and directed on attentional focus in a staged putting competition scenario intended to elicit competitive anxiety. External focus groups experienced less internal workload at all arousal levels and preserved heart rate variability measures when audiovisual distraction was introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The study of competitive anxiety and its relationship with mood states in high-performance athletes is relevant for predicting performance and enabling timely interventions to ensure successful outcomes in competitions. Due to the complex psychological demands arising from dual careers, the study of competitive anxiety and mood states contributes valuable insights into the emotional well-being of these student athletes. Objective. To examine and describe competitive anxiety and mood states in a sample of high-performance Cuban university athletes across different sports and genders. Design. A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted involving 46 Cuban student athletes from national teams across 16 sports and included both male and female athletes, with an average chronological age of 20.70 years and 6.98 years of experience in a high-performance sport. The Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory and Brunel Mood Scale were administered in their Spanish versions. The data were examined using descriptive statistics analysis including the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results. Although no statistically significant differences were found in competitive anxiety and mood states in relation to gender and type of sport, female athletes tend to present higher mean scores in competitive anxiety and negative mood states. Additionally, female athletes in team sports experienced slightly more intense emotions. Anxiety shows positive correlations with tension, depression, and vigour, suggesting its influence on certain mood states. Conclusion. The results indicate that, in general, the intensity of certain moods in Cuban university student athletes is influenced by levels of competitive anxiety. An increase in anxiety during competition can lead to heightened tension, depression, and vigour, with no significant differences observed between female and male athletes or based on the type of sport practiced.

Background. Sports performance anxiety is understood as a tendency to respond with cognitive or physical anxiety in competitive situations where the athlete's performance can be assessed. Objective. To investigate the role of social desirability and competitive anxiety in male football players with varying levels of skill. The study had two main objectives: first, to assess the levels of social desirability and competitive anxiety in two different groups, and second, to compare the levels of social desirability and competitive anxiety between highly skilled and less skilled players and explore their relationship. Design. Participants were divided into highly skilled (n = 39) and less skilled (n = 39) football players. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ social desirability bias. The Sport Competition Anxiety Test assessed the level of competitive anxiety. The t-test for independent samples was used to compare social desirability and competitive anxiety between the groups. A linear regression model was used to determine if social desirability could predict anxiety levels among the players. Results. The t-test showed that highly skilled players have a lower level of competitive anxiety than less skilled participants. However, social desirability did not show a statistically significant difference between the highly skilled and less skilled football players. The regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between social desirability and competitive anxiety (inverse relation) in both groups. Conclusion. Highly skilled football players demonstrated less competitive anxiety than less skilled ones. Lower levels of competitive anxiety are associated with higher social desirability among football players in both groups.

Background: Competitive anxiety is a common stress response in competitive environments, influencing sports performance, particularly among elite swimmers. Purpose: This study aims to examine how the characteristics of competitive anxiety impact sports performance across different phases of competitive preparation, alongside its correlation with trait anxiety. Methods: A longitudinal research design, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, was employed with 20 swimmers from the Chinese national swimming team participating in both the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games. The mental readiness form-3 (MRF-3) scale was employed at four time points during the preparation period for longitudinal tracking, complemented by the trait anxiety inventory (T-AI) scale to assess trait anxiety. Results: The study identified a negative correlation between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety among elite swimmers, with confidence demonstrating a positive correlation. Additionally, there was a significant between trait anxiety and competitive anxiety (p < 0.05). Variations in competitive anxiety were found at different stages of the preparation cycle (F= 15.074; 11.627; 19.552, p<0.05), impacting sport performance. Conclusion: To optimise performance, tailored psychological intervention programs should be developed and implemented to address the distinct characteristics of competitive anxiety experienced by elite swimmers throughout the preparation phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim in the present study was to test the efficacy of a 13-week, 19-session psychological intervention program on young soccer players' competitive anxiety and their sport psychological profiles. Participants were 37 players in the under-15 age category, of which 18 players formed the experimental group (M age = 14.67 years, SD =.48) and 19 players formed the control group (M age = 14.23 years, SD =.42); this was a quasi-experimental design without random assignment to groups. We had all participants complete the Psychological Inventory of Sport Performance (IPED), the Questionnaire of Psychological Characteristics of Sport Performance (CPRD), and the Competition State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) before and after the intervention. Results indicated positive effects for the intervention group (but not the control group) on stress control and motivation dimensions of the CPRD, cognitive anxiety and self-confidence on the CSAI-2, and self-confidence and attentional control on the IPED. These results suggest that psychological training for athletes contributes to their improved psychological skills, providing them tools to better adapt to the competitive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Team sports athletes may encounter significant stress, leading to competitive anxiety. The anxiety levels can be influenced by team behaviors and achievement goals. This study aims to investigate the relationship between team behaviors (i.e., perceptions of controlling coaching behavior and team cohesion) and competitive anxiety, and to examine the mediation effects of achievement goals (i.e., task-oriented and ego-oriented) on the relationship. A total of 298 team-handball players were involved in the study, ages ranging from 16 to 24 years old (M = 18.44, SD = 3.09). A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze path coefficients and mediating effects. Findings indicated that perceptions of controlling coaching behaviors had significant positive predictions for state and somatic anxiety (β = 0.22, 0.29) and negative predictions for self-confidence (β = -0.19). Team cohesion had significant negative predictions for state anxiety (β = -0.31) and positive predictions for self-confidence (β = 0.58). In addition, ego-oriented goals play a positive mediating role in the relationship between team behaviors and competitive anxiety (β = 0.03--0.35), while task-oriented goals play a negative mediating role in the relationship between team behaviors and competitive anxiety (β = -0.18 - -0.03). In conclusion, team behaviors have a significant relationship with competitive anxiety, with achievement goals playing a mediating role among them. Therefore, to alleviate team sports athletes' competitive anxiety, it is recommended to reduce coach control behaviors, enhance team cohesion, and employ psychological training methods (e.g., mindfulness or meditation) to strengthen athletes' task-oriented goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attentional focus during the execution of perceptual motor tasks has been shown to affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the physiological changes prompted by attentional focus in various levels of stress. Thirty-six healthy young males and females were randomized into groups and directed on attentional focus in a staged putting competition scenario intended to elicit competitive anxiety. External focus groups experienced less internal workload at all arousal levels and preserved heart rate variability measures when audiovisual distraction was introduced.

Introduction: Downhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport requiring high mental strength to perform on the best level in a competition with only one run to win the race. The substantial challenge here is to control automatic processes like competitive anxiety and stress. Hypnosis can address these automatic processes. We developed and evaluated a hypnosis audio-intervention to activate the optimal racing mindset. Methods: In our study, 19 elite Downhill Mountainbike athletes registered at two consecutive races of the IXS Downhill Cup. After the first race, athletes listened to the hypnosis audio-intervention. In this intervention, we instructed the athletes how to activate their optimal mental state before the second race. At both races, we measured competitive anxiety, stress, self-confidence, state resilience, and flow with validated questionnaires and assessed resting heart rate variability as physiological measure of resilience. Results: Race-related somatic anxiety and subjective stress decreased significantly while self-confidence increased significantly from first to second race after athletes listened to the hypnosis. Heart rate variability was significantly increased at the second race indicating elevated vagal activity. When comparing race results of our participants to a control group of other elite athletes competing in the races but not listening to the hypnosis, we found that our study participants generally performed better in both races. Conclusion: The study shows that our hypnosis intervention was effective in reducing competitive anxiety and stress while increasing perceived resilience and self-confidence: After a self-administered hypnosis session, athletes were able to improve automatic processes responsible for putting them in their mental pole position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aimed to investigate the effects of mindfulness-based programs (MBP) on competitive anxiety among athletes. SPORTDiscus, CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest databases were searched for relevant studies published by July 2023. R packages were used for this meta-analysis. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) was applied to assess the methodological study quality. A total of 20 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-results showed a medium-to-large effect of the MBP in reducing athletes' competitive anxiety (g = -0.67, 95% CI [-0.92, -0.42]). The subgroup analyses revealed that the effectiveness of the MBP on competitive anxiety was robust regardless of MBP type, sport, age, and gender. However, the MBP effectiveness might be more prominent for non-Western athletes compared to Western athletes, and for high-level athletes (e.g., regional or national) compared to low-level athletes (e.g., local or university), as well as when interventions lasted more than 7 weeks. Additionally, separate meta-analyses revealed moderate-to-large effects in terms of cognitive anxiety (g = -0.76, 95% CI [-1.32, -0.19]) and somatic anxiety (g = -0.84, 95% CI [-1.26, -0.42]), as well as a small to moderate effect for self-confidence (g = 0.45, 95% CI [0.15, 0.75]).In conclusion, the MBP consistently and effectively reduces competitive anxiety levels among athletes. In the future, high-quality, adequately powered studies are needed to further explore the effects of MBP on the internal dimensions of competitive anxiety and understand the impact of various factors (e.g., MBP type, competitive level and country) on MBP effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the domain of competitive events, Latin dance athletes have always suffered competitive anxiety, which is a prevalent and prevailing psychological facet, in pre-, intra-, and post-competitive engagements. Usually, the implementation of systematic desensitization training is an efficacious approach to reduce competitive anxiety levels in routine sports to fortify psychological resilience of athletes (like swimming, volleyball, and basketball). This study focuses on the effect of systematic desensitization training on competition anxiety in the training of Latin dancers to establish good mental ability and promote the competitive ability of athletes. Methodology: The "Sports Competition Anxiety Test Questionnaire" was used to evaluate and classify the competitive anxiety levels of 150 Latin dance athletes. Then, the top 48 participants were selected (24 in the intervention cohort and 24 in the non-intervention cohort) as the study participants after stratifying anxiety score levels from the highest to the lowest. The intervention group was treated with an 8-week psychological intervention by employing systematic desensitization training techniques (encompassing imagery desensitization and in vivo desensitization). The anxiety levels of the subjects were quantified by employing the "Sport Competition Trait Anxiety Inventory" (CCTAI-C) and the "Competitive State Anxiety Inventory" (CSAI-2) to scrutinize the efficacy of systematic desensitization training in regulating competitive anxiety levels among Latin dance athletes. Results: After applying systematic desensitization training, the intervention group displayed a notable reduction in sport cognitive trait anxiety. Specifically, there was a decrease of 29.37% in social evaluation anxiety, 20.31% in competition preparation anxiety, 16.98% in performance anxiety, 25.16% in failure anxiety, 34.47% in opponent's ability anxiety, and 25.16% in injury anxiety. Moreover, for competitive state anxiety, cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety decreased by 39.19 and 21.43%. The state self-confidence increased by 14.42%. Conclusion: The result indicated that systematic desensitization training not only mitigates anxiety but also positively intervenes in sports-related anxiety. Moreover, systematic desensitization training can significantly diminish competitive anxiety among Latin dance athletes to bolster confidence during competitions. Integrating desensitization training into the regular regimen of Latin dance practice has the potential to fortify dancers' psychological resilience against anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition has characteristics that position sport as a fruitful field for the study of human affective processes of interest for psychology, such as anxiety, especially in disciplines such as military parachuting due to its uniqueness. This study aimed to analyse the validity of the Spanish version of the CSAI-2R inventory through a reliable model and to determine the interrelation, both among themselves and with anxiety, of certain specific technical variables related to sports performance in parachuting. The questionnaire was supplied to 42 jumpers in the Spanish National Military Championship. The results indicate that a reliable model has been established, but it is necessary to realise a multivariate relationship between components of competitive anxiety and specific variables of military skydiver's sporting experience in competition. It would be appropriate to reflect on what other psychological and technical variables may influence the sporting performance achieved, because it is a modality that has very particular conditions compared to the rest, not only because of the space, environment and form where and how the activity itself is carried out but also because of the context in which it is framed, as a result of the peculiarities that define the group to which the competitors belong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionDownhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport requiring high mental strength to perform on the best level in a competition with only one run to win the race. The substantial challenge here is to control automatic processes like competitive anxiety and stress. Hypnosis can address these automatic processes. We developed and evaluated a hypnosis audio-intervention to activate the optimal racing mindset.MethodsIn our study, 19 elite Downhill Mountainbike athletes registered at two consecutive races of the IXS Downhill Cup. After the first race, athletes listened to the hypnosis audio-intervention. In this intervention, we instructed the athletes how to activate their optimal mental state before the second race. At both races, we measured competitive anxiety, stress, self-confidence, state resilience, and flow with validated questionnaires and assessed resting heart rate variability as physiological measure of resilience.ResultsRace-related somatic anxiety and subjective stress decreased significantly while self-confidence increased significantly from first to second race after athletes listened to the hypnosis. Heart rate variability was significantly increased at the second race indicating elevated vagal activity. When comparing race results of our participants to a control group of other elite athletes competing in the races but not listening to the hypnosis, we found that our study participants generally performed better in both races.ConclusionThe study shows that our hypnosis intervention was effective in reducing competitive anxiety and stress while increasing perceived resilience and self-confidence: After a self-administered hypnosis session, athletes were able to improve automatic processes responsible for putting them in their mental pole position.

Abstract Background In the current study, we conducted a comparative analysis involving three distinct groups: one receiving group-based rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), another undergoing a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), and a third group serving as the control. The aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of the two interventions on specific psychological (competitive anxiety, perfectionism, irrational beliefs), physiological (salivary cortisol levels), and neurocognitive (executive functions: working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility) functions in Hungarian junior ice hockey players. Methods The participants consisted of 10 females and 36 males (NREBT=12, NMINDFULNESS=14, NCONTROL=20). We used questionnaires to assess competitive anxiety, perfectionism, and irrational beliefs. The components of executive functions were measured using a computerized testing system, while cortisol levels were examined through salivary samples. Prior to and after the interventions, each participant underwent all measurements, after which we conducted repeated measures ANOVA on our data. Results We found REBT to be an effective intervention for the regulation of competitive anxiety, perfectionism, and irrational beliefs as well as for improving some components of executive functions (inhibition and cognitive flexibility). Mindfulness was found to improve athletes’ processing speed and set-shifting abilities, which are related to cognitive flexibility and metacognitive processes. Conclusion In conclusion, we explore implications of these findings regarding how each approach is posited to enhance sports performance, using neurocognitive functions as a proxy. These findings are useful for further research and practical implications.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship among functional movement, skillrelated physical fitness, skill performance, competitive anxiety, and sport-confidence in college footballers. METHODS In this study, 76 college footballers were selected as research participants to investigate their body composition factors and general characteristics, and their functional movement, quickness, speed, agility, dribbling, competitive anxiety, and sport-confidence were measured. For analysis of study results, descriptive statistics, and Pearson’s product-moment coefficients of correlation were used. And then, multiple and simple linear regression were conducted to verify the influence of psychological, functional movement, skill-related physical fitness, and skill performance factors. RESULTS As a results of the analysis, correlation between functional movement factors, cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and state sport-confidence were significant considerably. In addition, deep squat, rotary stability, and shoulder mobility among the FMS sub-factors were found to have a significant effect on cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, state sport-confidence, and trait sport-confidence. Also, dribbling factor was found to have a significant effect on cognitive anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Functional movement and dribbling factors are related to competitive anxiety and sportconfidence of college footballers. follow-up studies are needed to verify the mechanism of the relationship between physical, skill-related physical fitness, skills, and psychological factors.

An athlete’s sporting experience is a factor associated with better-coping strategies and emotional regulation, especially concerning competitive anxiety and its symptoms. To verify whether more experienced athletes have lower rates of negativism and higher levels of self-confidence, we compared the means of these two variables between athletes with more and less experience. A meta-analysis was performed, following the PRISMA model. Seven articles were selected that measured, through the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory – 2 (CSAI-2 or its shortened version, CSAI-2R), the levels of self-confidence and negativism of high-performance athletes with different sports experiences. Significant statistical differences were found regarding the levels of negativism between athletes with more and less experience (p < .001). The same occurred with the levels of self-confidence between athletes with more and less sports experience (< .001). The results align with our initial hypothesis, formulated by Martens et al. (1990), that athletes with more experience would have higher self-confidence and lower negativism averages. One of the reasons may be using more effective coping strategies that are improved during the career years.

Background: In the current study, we conducted a comparative analysis involving three distinct groups: one receiving group-based rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), another undergoing a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), and a third group serving as the control. The aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of the two interventions on specific psychological (competitive anxiety, perfectionism, irrational beliefs), physiological (salivary cortisol levels), and neurocognitive (executive functions: working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility) functions in Hungarian junior ice hockey players. Methods: The participants consisted of 10 females and 36 males (NREBT=12, NMINDFULNESS=14, NCONTROL=20). We used questionnaires to assess competitive anxiety, perfectionism, and irrational beliefs. The components of executive functions were measured using a computerized testing system, while cortisol levels were examined through salivary samples. Prior to and after the interventions, each participant underwent all measurements, after which we conducted repeated measures ANOVA on our data. Results: We found REBT to be an effective intervention for the regulation of competitive anxiety, perfectionism, and irrational beliefs as well as for improving some components of executive functions (inhibition and cognitive flexibility). Mindfulness was found to improve athletes' processing speed and set-shifting abilities, which are related to cognitive flexibility and metacognitive processes. Conclusion: In conclusion, we explore implications of these findings regarding how each approach is posited to enhance sports performance, using neurocognitive functions as a proxy. These findings are useful for further research and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) is a validated measure of sports trait anxiety, with promising psychometric properties. However, its cross-cultural applicability in Chinese samples remains unexplored. Thus, the primary objectives of this study were twofold: to translate the SAS-2 into Chinese and assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version. Methods: In Study 1, we initiated the translation of the SAS-2 into Chinese. This assessment involved bilingual Chinese students proficient in both English and Chinese. Additionally, we conducted a cross-linguistic measurement invariance analysis. In Study 2, we delved into the psychometric properties of the Chinese SAS-2 using a sample of Chinese student athletes. This examination encompassed an evaluation of its factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance across genders. Results: Our findings in Study 1 indicated no significant differences in item scores between the Chinese SAS-2 and the English version, and measurement invariance across languages. In Study 2, we uncovered that the Chinese SAS-2 and its factors exhibited excellent reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values exceeding 0.80. Confirmatory factor analyses upheld the original three-factor model, demonstrating acceptable model fit indices (CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.08). Furthermore, all three factors of the Chinese SAS-2 displayed significant and positive correlations with athlete burnout and State-Trait anxiety. Additionally, this study elucidated the mediating role of Concentration Disruption (Somatic anxiety and Concentration Disruption) in the relationship between the Trait (State) anxiety, and athlete burnout. Moreover, we identified measurement invariance of the Chinese version of the SAS-2 across genders. Finally, female college athletes exhibited significantly higher scores in somatic anxiety and worry compared to their male counterparts. Discussion: In sum, our findings affirm that the Chinese version of the SAS-2 demonstrates robust reliability and correlates effectively with related criteria, thus validating its suitability for use in a Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study purpose was to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation training on reducing competitive anxiety among shooting athletes. Materials and methods. An experimental approach with a pretest-posttest control group design was used in this study. The experiment was carried out eight times. A total of 12 athletes, 8 males and 4 females, who were shooting athletes, took part in this research. The athletes in this study, who joined the regional training center in East Java Province, Indonesia, ranged in age from 20 to 44 years. In this investigation, saturated samples, including those from all individuals, were used. Data were obtained from competitive anxiety scales during the pre- and post-test periods. Independent samples t-tests were used to assess the data. Results. The t-value for this study is -14,210, and the p-value is 0.001. These findings suggest that progressive muscle relaxation training reduces competitive anxiety in shooting athletes. The athlete's awareness of the value of mental training contributes to reduction in competitive anxiety. This study has gained traction since athletes are aware of the value of preparing for training before competing because they attend and participate in the regional training center. Conclusions. Progressive muscle relaxation training can be used as an intervention to help shooting athletes reduce their competitive anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study purpose was to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation training on reducing competitive anxiety among shooting athletes. Materials and methods. An experimental approach with a pretest-posttest control group design was used in this study. The experiment was carried out eight times. A total of 12 athletes, 8 males and 4 females, who were shooting athletes, took part in this research. The athletes in this study, who joined the regional training center in East Java Province, Indonesia, ranged in age from 20 to 44 years. In this investigation, saturated samples, including those from all individuals, were used. Data were obtained from competitive anxiety scales during the pre- and post-test periods. Independent samples t-tests were used to assess the data. Results. The t-value for this study is -14,210, and the p-value is 0.001. These findings suggest that progressive muscle relaxation training reduces competitive anxiety in shooting athletes. The athlete’s awareness of the value of mental training contributes to reduction in competitive anxiety. This study has gained traction since athletes are aware of the value of preparing for training before competing because they attend and participate in the regional training center. Conclusions. Progressive muscle relaxation training can be used as an intervention to help shooting athletes reduce their competitive anxiety.

Combat sports require participants to engage in potentially dangerous forms of contact-based competition. Pressure to succeed, coupled with the risk of severe injury can induce significant levels of anxiety, which if uncontrolled, can negatively impact performance and possibly promote unsporting conduct. The present study examined competitive anxiety levels of combat sports athletes and determined whether self-reported scores were associated with mental toughness and Sportspersonship attitudes. A cross-sectional survey design was used whereby participants (N = 194) completed a battery of questionnaires measuring competitive combat sport experiences, demographic details, Sportspersonship traits (compliance towards rules, respect for opponents, and game perspective), and competition anxiety (somatic, cognitive, and self-confidence; reported retrospectively). Results suggest that mentally tough athletes experience lower levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety, and higher self-confidence, prior to competitions. Findings also found that athletes endorsing more altruistic and respectful attitudes in sport (Sportspersonship) reported higher levels of competition anxiety. The findings demonstrate that mental toughness is allied to positive attributes and could potentially be operationalized to improve both the retention and performance of combat sports athletes. Thus, the authors advocate the use of mental toughness coaching interventions within combat sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to test the effect of mental imagery training on the competitive anxiety of karate Kumite athletes. One of the benefits of mental imagery is that it can improve the athlete's ability to control psychological symptoms such as anxiety. So that athletes can show their best performance during the game. This research used quantitative methods with an experimental approach, the pretest-posttest control and an experimental group design. The population used West Java regional karate athletes, totalling 42 athletes. Using purposive sampling techniques, the samples consisted of 15 Bandung Karate Club Kumite athletes and 15 Kei Shin Kan Kumite athletes. Data were obtained using The Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale. Based on the results of the data analysis obtained, the average experimental pretest of 25.20 and posttest of 20.00 showed a decrease in the anxiety of Kumite athletes after being given imagery training. In addition, the N-Gain scores in both groups show decreased pressure in Kumite athletes. However, the N-Gain score in the experimental group was lower than the control group (-23.60 < 3.56), and in the t-test on the N-Gain value, the score obtained the Sig. Value (2-tailed) was 0.005 < α = 0.05. So it can be concluded that imagery training affects the competitive anxiety of Kumite athletes, and there are significant differences in effectiveness in applying imagery training with conventional exercises

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a great emotional impact on the general population, with specific consequences in the field of sport and physical activity. The present study was conducted to meet two objectives: (1) to investigate if the pandemic had an impact on competitive anxiety and if the sex and competitive level played a mediating role, and (2) to investigate if the relationship between emotional self-control and anxiety was affected by the pandemic. An amount of 608 Spanish athletes participated, divided into two cohorts, before and after the pandemic. Measurements of competitive anxiety and emotional self-control were made at both time points, which were processed by combining analysis of variance and regression models. Differences were found in competitive anxiety before and after COVID-19, with athlete's competitive level acting as a mediating variable. For high-level athletes, there was an increase in anxiety, while for lower-level athletes, there was a decrease in anxiety. The pandemic seems to have led to higher levels of anxiety in elite athletes, compared to amateur athletes. There was no interaction between the sex of the participants and the cohort. Emotional self-control remained a significant predictor of low competitive anxiety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to develop a Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) based group counselling program for athletes, and then to experimentally test the effects of the program on the competitive anxiety and irrational beliefs of non-western student-athletes. The effects of the REBT based program was examined using a 2 × 2 controlled quasi-experimental group design. 22 student-athletes participated in the study (11 in the experimental group and 11 in the control group). The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 was used to assess athlete competitive anxiety. To test the effects of program, descriptive statistics were calculated, and Bayesian repeated-measures ANOVA were conducted. Thematic analysis is used to analyse qualitative data. Data revealed significant decreases from pre- to post- in irrational beliefs and competitive anxiety in the REBT group compared to the control group. The findings indicated a positive effect of the REBT based program on the student-athletes' competitive anxiety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to modelling fear of failure based on self-criticism, maladaptive schemas and perceived competence mediated by competitive anxiety in high school girls student, conducted by correlational model and SEM. The statistical population included second grade female secondary school students in Shiraz city, whose number was 7420 students in the academic year of 2020-2021. In this study, 361 participate were selected based on Cochran's formula. In order to collect data was used Conroy (2002) Fear of Performance Fear Assessment Questionnaire, Thompson & Zuroff (2004) Self-Critical Level Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire (1998), Harter Competence Perception Questionnaire (1982) and Competitive Anxiety Questionnaire Illinois (1990). Data analysis was performed using AMOS 18 software. The results showed that selfcriticism in addition to a direct effect mediated by competitive anxiety has a positive and indirect relationship with fear of failure (B=0.23). Also, maladaptive schemas, in addition to having a direct effect on competitive anxiety mediation, have a positive and indirect relationship with fear of failure (B=0.21). Finally, in addition to the direct effect mediated by competitive anxiety, the perception of competence has a negative and indirect relationship with the fear of failure (B=-0.26). According to the findings of this research, it can be concluded that competitive anxiety as an important variable that can play a mediating role in the relationship between the researched variables should be given more attention in academic affairs and counselling for students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imagery is a popular technique for enhancing learning, performance, and rehabilitation in sport, but mixed evidence exists to its effectiveness. There have been wide variations in the methods used to deliver imagery interventions and the level of detail reported, making it difficult to draw comparisons across studies. Moreover, there have been few efforts to date to replicate the findings of previous intervention studies. The aim of this paper is to articulate the need for standardized reporting of imagery interventions, which can be achieved through application of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR; Hoffmann et al., 2014). The TIDieR is a 12-item checklist to provide fuller, more accurate and standardized reporting so that these future imagery interventions can be more effectively delivered in practice or replicated in research. We use the TIDieR to describe a personalized guided imagery intervention for improving student-athletes’ regulatory responses to competitive anxiety. Overall, this paper offers practical and evidence-based guidance for researchers designing imagery interventions and recommendations to enable journal editors and reviewers to make easier judgements about rigor. It may also serve as a pedagogical resource for students and trainee sport psychologists undertaking applied research as part of their training.

Background & Aims: Success and progress in learning is the goal of all educational systems and the degree of benefit from educational environments requires students' sense of energy and mental health. One of the most important variables in the health of the educational context of any country's educational system is mental health, which is an internal sense to ensure mental health, and in fact, researchers have called it a useful and simple way to understand the concept of students' well-being. In their daily academic life, students face various challenges, obstacles, and special pressures during their studies, which are a threat to their self-confidence, motivation, and, as a result, their academic performance. Some students are successful in dealing with them and others are not successful in this field. Therefore, educational researchers should pay serious attention to understanding and how to adapt to academic challenges. Mental Health Mental health is an issue beyond the absence or absence of mental illness. The positive dimension of mental health, which the World Health Organization relies on, is included in the definition of health: "Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or disability". Therefore, mental health is a state of well-being in which a person recognizes his abilities and can adapt to the normal stresses of life and be useful and productive in terms of work. Competitive anxiety and academic motivation can be mentioned among the factors affecting mental health. Anxiety, as a negative feeling, affects a person's perception and leads to a decrease in performance. Of course, many students experience anxiety. Competitive anxiety is an issue that almost every student faces from time to time. When the demands on a student exceed their perceived ability, their stress level rises. Motivation is the most important condition for learning. Interest in learning is the product of factors related to a student's personality and ability, task characteristics, incentives, and other environmental factors. What factors make students' motivation (due to its long-term effects on learning and self-fertility in students) valuable for parents and teachers? Motivated students are easily identified. They are eager to learn, interested, curious, hardworking, and serious. These students easily overcome obstacles and problems, spend more time studying and completing school assignments, learn more, and continue their education after finishing high school. Motivation can be seen as an intervening process with an internal state of an organism that forces or motivates it to act, in other words, it can be said that motivation is a force that gives force to behavior and guides it. Slow and is an effective factor in mental health. Like other topics, there has been a lot of research on the relationship between competitive anxiety, academic motivation, and mental health, but there is no integrated research among school students. Considering the review of past research and the understanding of the relationship between research variables, the lack of integrated research in this field, as well as the importance of competitive anxiety and academic motivation and mental health, the research question of the current research is whether there is a relationship between competitive anxiety and motivation. Is there a relationship between education and mental health in students? Methods: The present research is descriptive and correlational in terms of method, and its statistical population included all male student in the second year of high school in Marivan city who were studying in the academic year 2021-2022. The statistical population was 850 people according to the inquiry from the Statistics Unit of the Sanandaj Education Department. According to the table of Karjesi and Morgan, 265 people were selected through a simple random sampling method. Research tools included three competitive anxiety of Besharat et al. (2021), Harter's academic motivation (1981), and Goldberg's mental health (1972). Pearson's statistical method was used for data analysis. Results: The research results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between the components of competitive anxiety and mental health in students, while there is a positive and significant relationship between the components of academic motivation and mental health in gifted students. Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between competitive anxiety and academic motivation with mental health, so there is a need for planners and education managers to increase mental health in students, competitive anxiety and academic motivation. Pay attention the current research, like any other research, has limitations that can clarify the findings and suggestions of the research and help future researchers to adopt effective measures to deal with the threat of internal and external validity of research projects. to give The basic limitations of the current research are as follows: the bias of people towards answering the questions of the questionnaires, which reduces the accuracy of the results to some extent, the presence of unwanted variables that affect the results of the research, and the lack of use of other research tools such as observation and interview. It has been associated with the subjects and only using the questionnaire. It is recommended to educational managers to take appropriate motivational measures such as innovation and creativity in creating a competitive and encouraging educational environment with appropriate and up-to-date educational facilities, suitable educational buildings, and preparing students as best as possible for their future jobs., make regular visits and scientific trips, and use teachers with high scientific knowledge and skills. It is suggested that the scientific and academic interests and tastes of the students be identified and these interests come to the fore through centers, associations, and scientific organizations. Providing a suitable atmosphere in terms of group work, creating innovation in teaching methods, using sincere and friendly spoken literature, and using students in teaching discussions are among the things that can be done by teachers in order to increase the academic motivation of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competitive anxiety is an important issue in sport psychology since it is capable of influencing athletes' performance. This study aims to examine the role of emotion regulation and personality in explaining individual differences in competitive anxiety of athletes, considering their sex and sport modality. A total of 101 athletes (50.5% males), aged between 18 and 69 years (M = 26.22; SD = 0.99), were included in this cross-sectional study. They filled out self-report scales on emotion regulation, personality, and competitive anxiety. Multiple regressions were used to analyze the data. Results partially supported our hypotheses. While sex differences were found in competitive anxiety, with women experiencing higher cognitive and somatic anxiety and lower self-confidence in comparison to men, no differences were found according to sport modality. Additionally, cognitive reappraisal was significantly associated with self-confidence, whereas neuroticism and extroversion were significantly associated with competitive anxiety dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlet disabilitas memiliki kesempatan yang sama untuk mengembangkan potensi yang dimiliki dan berprestasi pada bidang olahraga. Competitive anxiety pada Atlet disabilitas dapat mempengaruhi performa dalam bertanding sehingga diperlukan mental toughness yang tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah terdapat hubungan antara mental toughness dengan competitive anxiety pada atlet disabilitas. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif korelasional. Teknik pengambilan sampel penelitian menggunakan sampling jenuh. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah 69 orang atlet disabilitas NPCI (National Paralympic Committee Indonesia) Jawa Timur. Untuk memperoleh data, digunakan skala mental toughness yang diadaptasi dari Gucciardi et al. (2009) yang terdiri dari 24 item dan skala competitive anxiety yang disusun berdasarkan CSAI-2R dari Martinent et al. (2010) yang terdiri dari 16 item. Teknik analisis data menggunakan uji regresi linier dan korelasi product moment dengan bantuan JASP 16.0 for windows. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan negatif antara mental toughness dengan competitive anxiety secara signifikan dengan p value 0,018 (p 0.267). Sehingga semakin tinggi mental toughness yang dimiliki atlet disabilitas dalam menghadapi pertandingan maka semaki rendah tingkat competitive anxiety yang dialami.

The main objective of this study was to analyze whether the perception of the motivational climate in young soccer players determines the level of competitive anxiety and self-confidence. In addition, the results were explored according to gender, in order to observe if there were differences between the female and male categories. A total of 113 cadet and youth soccer players from six soccer teams in the provinces of Malaga and Granada, aged between 14 and 19 years, who competed in regional leagues, participated in the study. Of these, 50 were female and 63 were male. The Competitive Sport Anxiety (CSAI-2), Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2), and Self-Confidence in Sport Competition Questionnaire (CACD) were used to collect the information. Correlation, linear regression and cluster analyses were performed. The data analyses carried out affirmed the relationship between the study variables, observing that the perception of ego climate was positively related to cognitive anxiety (p < 0.05) and insecurity (p < 0.01), and inversely to self-confidence (p < 0.05). By gender, boys showed a higher perception of an ego-oriented (p < 0.001) and lower perception of a task-oriented climate (p < 0.05) than girls. However, girls showed a greater intensity in the relationships related to ego climate and lower scores in self-confidence (p < 0.01), as well as higher scores in insecurity (p < 0.001). The results have shown positive relationships between self-confidence and a task-oriented climate, as well as negative ones with an ego-oriented climate. It is also observed that ego orientation generates more insecurity and anxiety, which is more evident in girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate athletes' hypothetical use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a behavior similar to doping, and its association with doping attitudes, competitive anxiety and situational opportunity. One hundred twenty-two sport science students completed an online survey assessing biographical information, doping attitudes, and competitive anxiety. Students' intention to use analgesics was measured via two different hypothetical situations using the vignette technique. The favorable situation included an absence of potential witnesses and presence of an attractive good whereas witnesses were present in the unfavorable situation and an attractive goal was absent. The results of two hierarchical multiple regression models showed that doping attitudes and competitive anxiety, especially worry, predicted the use of analgesics. In the situation featuring a favorable opportunity, worry was the strongest predictor, whereas in the situation of an unfavorable opportunity, doping attitudes was the strongest predictor for using NSAIDs. Results indicate that NSAID use is associated with positive attitudes toward doping and competitive anxiety, and that it is situationally dependent. Future research perspectives and practical implications are discussed.

Combat sports require participants to engage in potentially dangerous forms of contact-based competition. Pressure to succeed, coupled with the risk of severe injury can induce significant levels of anxiety, which if uncontrolled, can negatively impact performance and possibly promote unsporting conduct. The present study examined competitive anxiety levels of combat sports athletes and determined whether self-reported scores were associated with mental toughness and Sportspersonship attitudes. A cross-sectional survey design was used whereby participants (N = 194) completed a battery of questionnaires measuring competitive combat sport experiences, demographic details, Sportspersonship traits (compliance towards rules, respect for opponents, and game perspective), and competition anxiety (somatic, cognitive, and self-confidence; reported retrospectively). Results suggest that mentally tough athletes experience lower levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety, and higher self-confidence, prior to competitions. Findings also found that athletes endorsing more altruistic and respectful attitudes in sport (Sportspersonship) reported higher levels of competition anxiety. The findings demonstrate that mental toughness is allied to positive attributes and could potentially be operationalized to improve both the retention and performance of combat sports athletes. Thus, the authors advocate the use of mental toughness coaching interventions within combat sports.

Background : Excessive competitive anxiety induces adverse effects on athletic performance and planning efficient management methods is crucial. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of acupuncture on competitive anxiety. Methods : In this cross-over study, 20 male soccer players under 21 years (U-21) were randomized equally into acupuncture or control groups. The acupuncture group received acupuncture on fifteen anxiety-related points and the control group received acupuncture on fifteen points unrelated to anxiety for thirty minutes. We measured the participants’ resting heart rate and galvanic skin conduction and asked them to answer the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) questionnaire at baseline and the end of the intervention. Results : We detected a significant treatment effect in the cognitive anxiety level (-1.05 ± 0.91; p = 0.02) but not in the somatic anxiety level (-0.46 ± 1.68; p = 0.43), Sport Self-Confidence (-1.06 ± 2.21; p = 0.11), heart rate (0.20 ± 2.2; p = 0.93), and skin conductance (-0.50 ± 0.77; p = 0.19). Conclusion : Based on these results, acupuncture might decrease cognitive anxiety but might not affect somatic anxiety.

In this study the influence of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the emergence of competitive anxiety was investigated. While previous studies indicate that higher irrational beliefs predict greater competitive anxiety, in the present study it is hypothesized that this relationship is mediated by perfectionism. A serial atemporal multiple mediation analysis revealed that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism were significant partial mediators between irrational beliefs and competitive anxiety. The total score and all four subscale scores on irrational beliefs had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive competitive anxiety, the latter effects mediated by both forms of perfectionism. Depreciation beliefs had a direct effect, and demandingness and awfulizing had indirect effects, on somatic competitive anxiety when both forms of perfectionism were entered as mediators. These findings suggest that both irrational beliefs and perfectionism influence the emergence of competitive anxiety, therefore rational emotive behavioral therapy with a focus upon perfectionism may be an effective means of reducing competitive anxiety in athletes.

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between mental toughness and competitive anxiety on professional basketball athletes in Indonesia. The participants of this study were professional basketball athletes in Indonesia (N=54). Data were collected using surveys via Google Form. The instrumen of mental toughness was created by the writer. The instrument of competitive anxiety was Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). Data were analysed using Pearson Product-Moment. The result shows there is a negative correlation between mental toughness and cognitive anxiety (r(54)=-0,586; p=0,000) & mental toughness and somatic anxiety (r(54)=-0,615; p=0,000). There is a positive correlation between mental toughness and self-confidence (r(54) = 0,493; p = 0,000). In conclusion, there is a significant correlation between mental toughness and all three subscales of competitive anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Sports Creativity is the property of Journal of Sports Creativity and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study is to examine whether mental toughness can predict competitive anxiety through the motivation and competitive experience possessed by athletes. Respondents involved were 175 athletes who were students (93 female and 82 male). Path analysis reports that there are direct and indirect effects of the measured variable. Our results show the influence of mental toughness on competitive anxiety. However, the influence of exerted is a positive effect that if athletes have good mental toughness, then their competitive anxiety increases as well. Researchers suspect that there are other constructs that accompany mental toughness in influencing competitive anxiety in athletes. The mediation model also shows that athletes who have high motivation and competitive experience significantly mediate the influence between mental toughness and athlete’s competitive anxiety. Concluded that mental toughness, motivation, competitive experience, have a reciprocal relationship from competitive anxiety. In addition, the results of this study also reported that mental toughness, motivation, and competitive experience are able to predict competitive anxiety.

The special skill is highly specific skill embedded within a more general class of skills or, as a dictionary definition would suggest, an exception to the rule. The present study attempted to investigate the emergence of especial skill in shooting with air gun at two skill levels (skilled, novice). The population studied here included all male and female shooters from the city of Semnan. The study was conducted on a sample of 40 shooters, consisting of two groups of women with the mean age of M= 21.33 and two groups of men with the mean age of M= 23.44, who performed shooting with air gun at five distances (8, 9, 10, 11, 12 meters) from the target. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, tables, and figures) as well as inferential statistics (regression and one-way analysis of variance). Simple linear regression with the significance level P

Background: The study of competitive anxiety and its relationship with mood states in high-performance athletes is relevant for predicting performance and enabling timely interventions to ensure successful outcomes in competitions. Due to the complex psychological demands arising from dual careers, the study of competitive anxiety and mood states contributes valuable insights into the emotional well-being of these student athletes., Objective: To examine and describe competitive anxiety and mood states in a sample of high-performance Cuban university athletes across different sports and genders., Design: A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted involving 46 Cuban student athletes from national teams across 16 sports and included both male and female athletes, with an average chronological age of 20.70 years and 6.98 years of experience in a high-performance sport. The Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory and Brunel Mood Scale were administered in their Spanish versions. The data were examined using descriptive statistics analysis including the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient., Results: Although no statistically significant differences were found in competitive anxiety and mood states in relation to gender and type of sport, female athletes tend to present higher mean scores in competitive anxiety and negative mood states. Additionally, female athletes in team sports experienced slightly more intense emotions. Anxiety shows positive correlations with tension, depression, and vigour, suggesting its influence on certain mood states., Conclusion: The results indicate that, in general, the intensity of certain moods in Cuban university student athletes is influenced by levels of competitive anxiety. An increase in anxiety during competition can lead to heightened tension, depression, and vigour, with no significant differences observed between female and male athletes or based on the type of sport practiced., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Ríos-Garit, J., Cañizares-Hernández, M., Reyes-Bossio, M., Pérez-Surita, Y., Touset-Riverí, R., 2024.)

Background: Sports performance anxiety is understood as a tendency to respond with cognitive or physical anxiety in competitive situations where the athlete's performance can be assessed., Objective: To investigate the role of social desirability and competitive anxiety in male football players with varying levels of skill. The study had two main objectives: first, to assess the levels of social desirability and competitive anxiety in two different groups, and second, to compare the levels of social desirability and competitive anxiety between highly skilled and less skilled players and explore their relationship., Design: Participants were divided into highly skilled ( n = 39) and less skilled ( n = 39) football players. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire was used to assess the participants' social desirability bias. The Sport Competition Anxiety Test assessed the level of competitive anxiety. The t -test for independent samples was used to compare social desirability and competitive anxiety between the groups. A linear regression model was used to determine if social desirability could predict anxiety levels among the players., Results: The t -test showed that highly skilled players have a lower level of competitive anxiety than less skilled participants. However, social desirability did not show a statistically significant difference between the highly skilled and less skilled football players. The regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between social desirability and competitive anxiety (inverse relation) in both groups., Conclusion: Highly skilled football players demonstrated less competitive anxiety than less skilled ones. Lower levels of competitive anxiety are associated with higher social desirability among football players in both groups., Competing Interests: The author declares no conflict of interest., (© Sultanov, M.B., 2024.)

Background: Competitive anxiety is a common stress response in competitive environments, influencing sports performance, particularly among elite swimmers., Purpose: This study aims to examine how the characteristics of competitive anxiety impact sports performance across different phases of competitive preparation, alongside its correlation with trait anxiety., Methods: A longitudinal research design, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, was employed with 20 swimmers from the Chinese national swimming team participating in both the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games. The mental readiness form-3 (MRF-3) scale was employed at four time points during the preparation period for longitudinal tracking, complemented by the trait anxiety inventory (T-AI) scale to assess trait anxiety., Results: The study identified a negative correlation between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety among elite swimmers, with confidence demonstrating a positive correlation. Additionally, there was a significant between trait anxiety and competitive anxiety ( p  < 0.05). Variations in competitive anxiety were found at different stages of the preparation cycle ( F  = 15.074; 11.627; 19.552, p  < 0.05), impacting sport performance., Conclusion: To optimise performance, tailored psychological intervention programs should be developed and implemented to address the distinct characteristics of competitive anxiety experienced by elite swimmers throughout the preparation phases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhou, Jin and Wen.)

The present study examined the association between personality, competitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and physiological arousal in athletes with high and low anxiety levels. Anxiety was manipulated by means of an incentive. Fifty male participants, first, completed the Five Factor Personality Inventory and their resting electro dermal activity (EDA) was recorded. In the second stage, participants were randomly assigned to high or low anxiety groups. Individual EDAs were recorded again to determine precompetition physiological arousal. Participants also completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and played a computer-simulated soccer match. Results showed that neuroticism was related to both CSAI-2 components and physiological arousal only in the group receiving the incentive. Winners had higher levels of cognitive anxiety and lower levels of physiological arousal than losers. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that an athlete's neurotic personality may influence his cognitive and physiological responses in a competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study assessed relationships and sex differences between psychological state (recovery, stress, anxiety, and self-confidence) and gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) prior to and during a 56 km ultramarathon running race and identified predictive factors of race GIS. Forty-four (26 males, 18 females) ultramarathon competitors completed anxiety, recovery, stress and GIS questionnaires for three days prior to the race and immediately pre-race. Race GIS were assessed immediately post-race. Spearman's rank order, Mann–Whitney U tests and regression analyses were used to determine correlations and identify sex differences between psychological state and GIS and determine predictors of race GIS. Results: Race GIS were significantly correlated with recovery (rs = − 0.381, p = 0.011), stress (rs = 0.500, p = 0.001) and anxiety (rs = 0.408, p = 0.006), calculated as the mean of the three days preceding the race and on race morning. The correlation between anxiety and GIS was strongest in the 24 h immediately prior to the race (all rs > 0.400, and all p < 0.05), but unclear patterns were identified for stress and recovery. Regression analyses showed 36% and 40% of variation in the severity and number of race GIS was accounted for by body mass and measures of stress, anxiety, and GIS over the three days preceding the race and on race morning (both p < 0.001). There were no sex differences in the number and severity of GIS leading up to or during the race (all p > 0.05), however, females reported greater state anxiety (p = 0.018) and lower self-confidence than males (p = 0.006) over the three days preceding the race and on race morning. Conclusion: Endurance athletes that experience GIS during competition should investigate elevated stress and/or anxiety as a potential contributor and identify if management strategies can reduce the occurrence and severity of GIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Sport Psychology (2676-3729) is the property of Shahid Beheshti University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study analyzed competitive anxiety and coping during competition with a congested schedule in male volleyball athletes according to match difficulty (MD). Eleven athletes had their competitive and coping anxiety levels analyzed before four matches, using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory - 2 Revised (CSAI-2R) and Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28), respectively. The MD level was calculated at the end of the competition. Anxiety levels did not change during matches. The ACSI-28 "free from worry" subscale score for match 1 was different from matches 2 and 4. The highest MD level match showed different score for the ACSI-28 "coping with adversity" subscale compared to the match with the lowest MD level. During the competition with a busy schedule, the analyzed athletes modulated their coping strategies according to their MD level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive competitive anxiety induces adverse effects on athletic performance and planning efficient management methods is crucial. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of acupuncture on competitive anxiety. Methods: In this cross-over study, 20 male soccer players under 21 years (U-21) were randomized equally into acupuncture or control groups. The acupuncture group received acupuncture on fifteen anxiety-related points and the control group received acupuncture on fifteen points unrelated to anxiety for thirty minutes. We measured the participants' resting heart rate and galvanic skin conduction and asked them to answer the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) questionnaire at baseline and the end of the intervention. Results: We detected a significant treatment effect in the cognitive anxiety level (-1.05 ± 0.91; p = 0.02) but not in the somatic anxiety level (-0.46 ± 1.68; p = 0.43), Sport Self-Confidence (-1.06 ± 2.21; p = 0.11), heart rate (0.20 ± 2.2; p = 0.93), and skin conductance (-0.50 ± 0.77; p = 0.19). Conclusion: Based on these results, acupuncture might decrease cognitive anxiety but might not affect somatic anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to predict of perceived overtraining from competitive anxiety and drive for muscularity among male athletes. The statistical population of the present study 250 male athletes who were selected using accessible sampling from different sport fields (individual and group), and completed perceived overtraining, competitive anxiety and drive for muscularity questionnaires. Results of Pearson correlation and stepwise regression showed that perceived overtraining has a positive and significant correlation with cognitive and physical anxiety, and negative and significant correlation with self-confidence and drive for muscularity, respectively. In general, four variables such as physical anxiety, drive for muscularity, self-confidence, and cognitive anxiety predicted over 41% of the variance overtraining. Thus, our findings suggest that recognizing and monitoring of competitive anxiety and drive for muscularity in athletes play a key role in identifying perceived overtraining.