Do Anxious Swimmers Swim Slower? Reexamining the Elusive Anxiety-Performance Relationship

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to utilize a multidimensional measure of anxiety and a more sensitive intraindividual performance measure to evaluate the relationship between anxiety and performance. Three hypotheses were tested. First, cognitive anxiety is more consistently and strongly related to performance than is somatic anxiety. Second, somatic anxiety demonstrates an inverted-U relationship with performance, whereas self-confidence and performance exhibit a positive linear relationship and cognitive anxiety and performance exhibit a negative one. Finally, short duration and high and low complexity events demonstrate stronger relationships between somatic anxiety and performance than do long duration or moderate complexity events. Two samples of swimmers completed the CSAI-2 prior to competition, and performance data were obtained from meet results. Correlational and multiple regression analyses generally supported Hypotheses 1 and 3, while polynomial trend analyses on standardized CSAI-2 scores confirmed trends predicted in Hypothesis 2. Overall, these results not only revealed that improved instrumentation allows demonstration of consistent anxiety-performance relationships, but they also provided additional construct validity for the CSAI-2.

Orientaciones de meta como mediadoras en la relación entre perfeccionismo y ansiedad precompetitiva. [Goal orientations as mediators in the relationship between perfectionism and precompetitive anxiety].

“…Mientras que quienes se esfuerzan por la impecabilidad en competición, pero mayormente se enfocan en ganar o mostrar superioridad, manifiestan más pensamientos e imágenes negativas sobre el desempeño, conduciendo a experimentar preocupación, temor e inseguridad en su rendimiento, y por tanto dificultad en la atención (Burton, 1988). Ello confirmado a partir del análisis de mediación.…”

“…https://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2018.05205 Por otra parte, la orientación al ego es a veces considerada como una orientación motivacional disfuncional, particularmente en combinación con baja orientación a la tarea (Duda, 2005), por lo que puede conducir a la ansiedad. La ansiedad estado competitiva es un estado emocional caracterizado por sentimientos de aprensión, tensión y activación en situaciones competitivas (Martens, Vealey, y Burton, 1990), la cual puede afectar el rendimiento deportivo (Burton, 1988;Smith, Smoll, y Schutz, 1990). …”

Self-efficacy, Achievement motivation and Anxietyof Elite Athletes

“…Concerning the relationship between cognitive anxiety and performance, research has found a negative relationship involving these variables. Higher levels of cognitive anxiety are associated with lower levels of performance (Burton, 1988;Motowildo, Packard, &Manning, 1986). Klein (1990) by using the technique of meta-analysis concluded the negative relationship of anxiety and performance is: a) stronger in female athletes …”

Effects of Emotional Stress on Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Functions in Skydiving

“…Understanding the various manifestations of the anxiety is important to comprehend their influence on performance. A negative linear relationship with CA and a positive linear relationship with their personal capacity has been proved in relation to physical performance [62]. The SA also has a greater negative impact on events of short duration.…”