Fear of failure in sport, exercise, and physical activity: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Fear of failure is a popular catchphrase used by performers in a variety of domains to reference motivating and/or inhibiting forces. In 2001, Conroy produced a review of research on the development of fear of failure and associated problems across a variety of different domains that also offered ideas on future research directions in relation to treatment. His review provided researchers with an understanding of the fear of failure at a time when little research had been conducted in the sport and exercise domain. The present scoping review is focused upon research in sport, exercise, and physical activity on fear of failure emerging subsequent to Conroy’s review to provide readers with an up-to-date understanding of how fear of failure is manifested among participants in sport and exercise. A total of 48 articles are included in this scoping review, which are divided into a total of four groups; (1) measurement of fear of failure, (2) antecedents of fear of failure, (3) outcomes of fear of failure, and (4) fear of failure and gender/sex differences. Future recommendations for research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Achievement
• avoidance motive
• avoidance
• sport psychology
• scoping review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).