Anxiety Responses and Psychological Skill Use During the Time Leading up to Competition: Theory to Practice I

Abstract

This study investigated temporal responses associated with competitive anxiety in athletes with facilitative and debilitative interpretations of their anxiety symptoms. Qualitative interviews assessed the intensity, frequency, and direction of cognitive and somatic symptoms experienced during a 7-day competitive cycle and the psychological strategies used to attain/maintain a positive psychological state. Analysis indicated three distinct temporal phases within the competitive cycle during which the intensity and frequency of cognitive and somatic symptoms increased. The facilitators utilized a refined repertoire of psychological skills to internally control and re-interpret the cognitive and somatic symptoms experienced. The debilitators did not possess this refined repertoire of psychological skills and relied on external strategies to stabilize the negative symptoms experienced. The findings emphasize the dynamic properties of the stress response and provide a framework for the structure, timing, and content of psychological skills interventions for use with performers who interpret anxiety symptoms as debilitative.

Notes

A copy of the cognitive and somatic symptoms booklet used within the ESM procedure can be obtained from the lead author.

A copy of the full interview guide and associated interview checklists can be obtained from the lead author.

Due to space limitations we have only presented the comparative part of the analysis within this paper that details the differences between facilitators and debilitators throughout the 7-day competitive cycle. However, the authors have formulated a copy of the case-oriented causal networks associated with the first phases of the data analysis procedure. These are available from the lead author and we encourage the interested reader to request this information.