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

Abstract

Previous research has focussed mainly on the psychological responses of injury onset and rehabilitation opposed to what sources of confidence are more salient for an athlete when returning to sport and how this influences re-injury anxiety. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between sources of confidence and re-injury anxiety in athletes returning to sport from injury. Participants (n=43) from numerous sports (n=8) were required to have sustained an injury longer than 6 weeks previously and returned back to their chosen sport within 4 weeks of data collection. This allowed them to complete the Modified Sources of Confidence Questionnaire (M-SSCQ; Magyar & Duda, 2000) and the Re-injury Anxiety Inventory (RIA; Walker, Thatcher & Lavelle, 2010). A multiple regression analysis used to assess the relationship between predictor (sources of confidence) and outcome (re-injury anxiety frequency and intensity) variables demonstrated that social support (p<.019) and vicarious experience (p<.049) significantly predicted re-injury anxiety intensity. Mental and physical preparation (p<.031) were the only variables found to significantly predict re-injury anxiety frequency. These findings indicate a relationship between sources of confidence and re-injury anxiety during the reentry to sport phase. This is important as it provides practitioners and coaches with an understanding of which sources are significant in reducing anxiety levels. This can be achieved by using social support but to an ‘optimum’ level for each athlete. Vicarious experience should also be used when an athlete is returning to competition as this may reduce re-injury fears. Qualitative and quantitative research should be directed towards why some sources of confidence are more salient in re-injury anxiety prediction.