An examination of debilitative and facilitative competitive anxiety

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An examination of
debilitative and facilitative
competitive anxiety
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• Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.
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Publisher: (cid:13)c S.M. Hanton
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An Examination
Debilitative
Facilitative
of
and
Competitive
Anxiety
by
Sheldon Murray Hanton
A Doctoral Thesis
Submitted in Partial Fulfilment the Requirements for the Award
of of
Doctor Philosophy the Loughborough University
of of
June, 1996
© S. M. Hanton, 1996
ABSTRACT
detailed
This debilitative facilitative
thesis conducted a examination
of and
dimensions Competitive
of competitive state anxiety. anxiety was assessed the
using
Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2)
which was modified to measure not
'intensity' (level) but 'direction' (facilitative/debilitative)
only the also
of cognitive
A
anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence. trait version of the questionnaire was also
Three different in The first
used. research methodologies were employed this thesis. two
Study 3 incorporated
studies adopted a quantitative research methodology,
qualitative
final investigation
techniques the the
and addressed research question via a single-subject
design The first investigated intensity direction dimensions
study. study and of state
function level in
The
anxiety as a of skill a sample of elite and non-elite swimmers.
differences between
results revealed that while no were evident the groups on the
intensity facilitative
the
of cognitive and somatic anxiety, elite group reported more
interpretations Self-confidence
these than the
of symptoms non-elite group. was also
higher in The do differ from
the
elite group. results suggested elite performers not non-
level but do have
the they they
elite performers on of anxiety experience, a more positive
interpretation in for The
these terms
of symptoms of consequence performance. second
by Jones
the
study examined predictions of a control process model of anxiety proposed
(1995a). Specifically, directional
the
the
study examined perceptions of anxiety as a
function Results favourable
that
of goal attainment expectations. showed swimmers with
differences in intensity
their to their
expectancies of ability achieve goals reported no
levels
to the
swimmers with negative or uncertain expectancies of goal achievement.
However, facilitative interpretations by
the
more of pre-race symptoms were reported
These findings highlighted important
positive goal expectancy group. applied
implications for
achieving appropriate pre-performance states via setting appropriate
Study how
goals that are within the control of the performer. three addressed elite
have interpret being
the to their
performers acquired ability anxiety symptoms as
facilitative Qualitative interview
towards techniques
and
upcoming performance.
inductive did
that the
content analysis revealed performers experience negative cognitive
first However, by
they
and somatic anxiety symptoms when started competing.
learning became
the that
appropriate education and natural experiences, performers aware
be Furthermore,
the nerves they experienced could positive towards the upcoming race.
developed, follow, detailed
the and now pre-competition and pre-race routines
swimmers
facilitative interpretation. The findings important
to this generated practical
maintain
implications for interpretations
to
attempting restructure negative of anxiety symptoms.
intervention
The final
the
study examined effects of a multimodal programme on
by
debilitated their
anxiety symptoms,
via a staggered multiple-baseline
performers
design ten Following intervention,
over a series of competitive races. the
single-subject
intensity levels
the that although remained stable, the three
results showed performers
intervention facilitative interpretations both
receiving the reported more of cognitive and
Self-confidence increased following intervention
also the treatment.
somatic anxiety.
These findings demonstrated that information by be
generated elite performers can
in The
transferred successfully ecologically valid sport environments. programme of
in
this thesis
that the
conducted provides evidence conventional notion of
research
be
towards
to
anxiety as negative performance can questioned and reconceptualised
include for The highlight importance
the
positive consequences performance. results of
future into that have been formerly labelled but
research other emotions may as anxiety,
denote different
which a emotional state altogether.
RESULTING
PUBLICATIONS FROM THESIS
Communications
Conference
Published
S. Hanton G. Jones (1993). Antecedents Levels Intensity Direction
and and of and
Dimensions State Anxiety in Elite Non-Elite Swimmers. Journal Sport
of and
of
Sciences, 12,193-194.
S. Hanton G. Jones (1994). Interpretation Anxiety Goal
and of symptoms and
Attainment Expectations. Journal Sport Sciences, 13,57-58.
of
S. Hanton G. Jones (1995). The Development Cognitive Skills
and of and
Strategies in Elite Swimmers: Making Butterflies Fly in Formation.
the
Journal Sport Sciences, 14,31.
of
Published Papers
Hanton, S. & Jones, G. (1996). The development in
of cognitive skills and strategies
Making butterflies fly in formation (Submitted).
the
elite swimmers:
Hanton, S. & Jones, G. (1996). The intervention
effects of a multimodal programme on
debilitated by Training butterflies fly in formation
their the to
performe- s anxiety:
(in
preparation).
Jones, G. & Hanton, S. (1996). Interpretation
of anxiety symptoms and goal
Journal Sport & Exercise Psychology, 18,144-158.
attainment expectations. of
Jones, G., Hanton, S. & Swain, A. B. J. (1994). Intensity interpretation
and of anxiety
in Personality Individual
elite and non-elite sports performers. and
symptoms
17,657-663.
Differences,
To Mum
Dad
and
"What is is
written without effort read without pleasure"
Samuel Johnson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I like to to Dr. Graham Jones
would express my sincere gratitude my supervisor,
for his help, I feel I have developed
advice and guidance. genuinely that
expert
lecturer due his influence.
as a researcher, and sport psychologist to
considerably
like
I to Sport
would also extend my gratitude to the other members of the
Psychology Research Group Loughborough University, Liz Campbell, Chris Harwood,
at
Lindsay Bradley Austin Swain, have
and who provided me with encouraging support
last
throughout the three years.
Finally, I like Mum Dad for
to to their
would also extend my gratitude my and
belief Loughborough, Rachel for her
throughout time to
continual support and my at and
last
the
and patience over year.
understanding
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
I: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
1
1.1 ANXIETY AS A FACTOR IN SPORT
1
1.2 THE STUDY OF ANXIETY IN SPORT
3
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
5
1.4 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS 5
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 7
2.1 INTRODUCTION
7
2.2 CONCEPTUAL ISSUES FOR CLARIFICATION 7
2.21 AROUSAL AND ACTIVATION 7
2.22 STRESS AND ANXIETY 8
2.3 UNIDIMENSIONAL AROUSAL APPROACHES 10
2.31 DRIVE THEORY 10
2.32 INVERTED U HYPOTHESIS 11
2.33 REVERSAL THEORY 12
2.4 UNIDIMENSIONAL ANXIETY APPROACHES 14
2.41 GENERAL VERSUS SPECIFIC ANXIETY 14
2.42 STATE VERSUS TRAIT ANXIETY 15
2.43 INDIVIDUAL ZONES OF OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING 16
2.44 SPORT COMPETITION ANXIETY TEST 16
2.45 COMPETITIVE STATE ANXIETY INVENTORY 17
2.5 MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANXIETY APPROACHES 17
2.51 COGNITIVE AND SOMATIC ANXIETY 17
2.52 COMPETITIVE STATE ANXIETY INVENTORY-2 19
'
2.521 Development CSAI-2 20
the
of
20
2.53 SPORT ANXIETY SCALE
2.54 MULTIDIMENSIONAL COMPETITIVE ANXIETY
21
RESEARCH AREAS
21
2.541 Antecedent Research
23
2.542 Temporal Patterning
25
2.543 Anxiety During Performance
25
2.544 Multidimensional Anxiety Performance
and
2.5441 Relationship Between CSAI-2 Components Performance 26
and
Criticisms Anxiety Performance Research 26
2.54411
of
Performance ?7
Subcomponents
2.54412
of
Catastrophe Theory 28
2.54413