Investigating the relationship between re-injury anxiety and sources of confidence in injured athletes on return to competitive sport

Abstract

The rationale to the present study was to explore the relationship between sources of confidence and re-injury anxiety in injured athletes. Injured athletes (n=50) who had been injured within the past six months and competed at club level or above, completed the Modified Sources of Confidence Questionnaire (M-SSCQ; Magyar and Duda, 2000) and the Re-Injury Anxiety Inventory (RIA; Walker, Thatcher and Lavelle, 2010). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine if any of the sources of confidence significantly predicted re-injury anxiety (Rehabilitation; intensity and frequency; Re-entry: intensity and frequency. The results identified a significant relationship between rehabilitation intensity and demonstration of ability (P < .01). Rehabilitation frequency had significant relationships with physical self-presentation (P < .01) and social support (P <.01). During the return to sport phase, significant relationships were found between re-injury anxiety intensity and mastery (P <.01), demonstration of ability (P <.05) and leadership (P <.05). The findings suggest certain sources are significantly more related to re-injury anxiety than others within the present study. Additionally, the findings suggest that’s specific sources of confidence are significant in aiding athletes cope with the potential detrimental effects associated with re-injury anxiety. Further qualitative research is required to explain the relationship between sources of confidence and re-injury over the three distinct phases of the injury process.