Temporal aspects of competitive anxiety and self-confidence as a function of anxiety perceptions

Abstract

This quantitative paper assessed athletes’ anxiety responses (intensity, direction and frequency of intrusions) with respect to interpretation of competitive anxiety. Facilitators displayed higher levels of cognitive anxiety, interpreted anxiety as more positive, experienced decreased frequencies of cognitive anxiety and increased frequencies of self-confidence than debilitators. All dimensions fluctuated in the time leading up to performance with frequency of intrusions demonstrating most variation. The findings have direct implications for the timing of interventions during stressful periods preceding competition. Thomas designed the study, collected and analysed the data and wrote the manuscript.