Relationships Between Ability and Coping in Competitive Female Gymnasts

Abstract

Differences in the strategies used by gymnasts of different abilities to cope with performance difficulties were investigated using the Ways of Coping with Sport questionnaire. The sample of 83 adolescent females represented gymnasts at two levels of ability: those who had competed at international or national championships and those who had competed at only state or club championships. The coping processes reported most frequently by the total sample of gymnasts were Increased Effort and Resolve, Seeking Social Support, Wishful Thinking, and Problem‐Focused Coping. It was noteworthy that these were also the preferred coping strategies of female basketball players. Analysis of the data by discriminant function indicated that the gymnasts of higher ability were older, had been involved in gymnastics for a longer period and were more likely to use Detachment to cope with performance problems. Age and experience were more important predictors of ability than was coping style.