Pre-competitive feeling states and directional anxiety interpretations

Abstract

This paper addressed the theoretical issues surrounding the oxymoron of ‘facilitative anxiety’ by considering the type and content of pre-competitive responses of sports performers who interpreted symptoms associated with anxiety as either facilitative or debilitative. Findings established that, rather than anxiety being confounded with other positive emotions, performers can report anxiety symptoms while simultaneously experiencing positive feeling states. The importance of examining self-confidence within the area of ‘anxiety direction’ is highlighted for future study as are implications for the ‘type’ of stress management intervention.