Traditionally, anxiety has been interpreted as a negative emotional state characterized by nervousness, worry, fret, uncertainty and vague fear which could have an adverse effect on sports achievement. On the other hand, sport type and its specific nature and demands, may also be connected with the level of state and trait anxiety. This study aimed to investigate potential differences in the competitive trait anxiety level and general self-esteem according to gender in sports of different contact level. The sample consisted of 1024 (590 males and 434 females) young athletes. Independent variables were sport contact level (non-contact, contact and collision sports) and gender. Dependent variables were measured by the adjusted versions of Sport Competition Anxiety Test and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Basic descriptive statistics was calculated for all the groups, and the differences between them were established using χ² test and MANOVA. The results suggest significant differences in trait competitive anxiety per sport type, gender and their interaction, and no differences in the general self-esteem level. The current study reveals that not only the intensity but also the intergroup relationship of a sport contact level (non-contact, contact and collision sports) is gender determined. These findings are important in psycho-diagnostic procedure and choosing appropriate coping strategies for athletes.
An overview of key moments in the development of world's and domestic sports psychology has been presented herein, with an emphasis on the specificities and similarities accompanying this development. By defining sports psychology through the presentation of national development as well as through the subject matters of sport psychologists' study and activities, the richness of contents and topics it deals with has been pointed out. The development of national sports psychology and exercise has been monitored through its presence and growth within professional and academic institutions in the field of sports and physical education and through important events, publications and names of the individuals who have marked its beginnings, contributed significantly to its development, affirmation and recognition, and paved the path for a new generation of experts who will design its notable presence and plan its future development in the Serbian sports and academic community. The paper also includes a critical review of the current state of applied and academic sports psychology, accompanied by the recommendations of the necessary activities that will provide a way to its faster and even more successful development in the future.
Superstitious behaviors stem from athletes' need to reduce competitive pressure and uncertainty of outcome, as it gives them the illusion of control over a number of external factors (luck factors) that may affect their competitive result. This study aims to determine the presence of superstitious behavior, its relationship to age, gender, competitive experience and self-confidence of competitors, and adequacy of Bleak and Frederick scale (1998) use to our athletes. From the original Superstitious Rituals Questionnaire developed by Bleak and Frederic (1998), after translation into Serbian, four items were removed, and the question of confidence in one's own orienteering skills was added, and the respondents were allowed to list personal superstitious behaviors not mentioned in the questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 78 orienteers (45 men, 33 women), aged 10-70 years and with an average competitive experience of 15.2 years. Based on the obtained research results, it was determined that from 10 to 68% of Serbian orienteers use 15 out of a total of 41 superstitious rituals, that the average number of these rituals per respondent was small (M/SD = 5.38 +/-3.46), that their effectiveness assessed on a scale of 0-5 was low (2.88 +/-1.31), that no one used 6 rituals, and that a significant number of orienteering-specific rituals were listed that were not present in the applied questionnaire. There is a significant positive correlation between the number of uses of superstitious rituals and female gender (r=.25), and a negative one with age, competitive experience, and self-confidence in orienteering skills (r=-.40; -.38; -.39, respectively). The fact that Serbian orienteers practice a relatively small number of superstitious behaviors listed in the applied questionnaire, mentioning at the same time, other superstitious rituals that they usually consider necessary routines of pre-start preparation, indicate the need to construct a new superstitious behavior questionnaire specific to orienteering and our sports culture.
The research performed on a sample of 210 students of the University of Donja Gorica (UDG), Podgorica, Montenegro, aimed to determine their leadership profiles' characteristics and examine the possible connection and the impact of selected demographic variables on its manifestation. In accordance with the total transformational leadership of Bass and Avolio, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X, self-rated version) was applied to measure the components of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership. The results of descriptive, comparative (t-test and ANOVA) and correlational analysis of the obtained data showed that the leadership profiles of UDG students are characterized by high scores for the transformational leadership factors (individual consideration, charisma, inspirational motivation, and intellectual stimulation), also followed by high scores for the contingent reward factors and management by exception - active related to transactional leadership, but with lowest scores for management by exception - passive and laissez-faire leadership. Such a leadership profile with predominant transformational qualities makes a good base for future leadership effectiveness. The results of the impact of demographic variables (gender and playing sports) were discussed in the context of their consistency/ inconsistency with the findings of previous research, theoretical and practical implications, and, specifically, regarding current policy and vision of UDG, entirely compatible with strategies used by efficient transformational leaders.
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