The relationship between sources of confidence and re-injury anxiety in injured athletes when returning to sport.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between sources of confidence and re-injury anxiety in injured athletes when returning to sport. Participants (n=54) from a variety of sports (n=9) completed the Modified Sources of Sport-Confidence Questionnaire (M-SSCQ; Vealey, Hayashi, Garner-Holman & Giacobbi, 1998) and the Re-injury Anxiety Inventory (RIAI; Walker, Thatcher & Lavallee, 2010). The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that vicarious experience (p<.002) and social support (p<.049) significantly contribute to the prediction of re-injury anxiety intensity. Vicarious experience in an inverse direction whereas social support in a positive. Vicarious experience (p<.012) was also the only source that significantly contributed to the prediction of re-injury anxiety frequency (p<.05), also in an inverse direction. These findings suggest specific sources of confidence may display stronger relationships to the prediction of re-injury anxiety intensity and frequency when returning to sport. Further research is required from both quantitative and qualitative approaches to help explain how and why certain sources of confidence relate more to re-injury anxiety.