Stressors, social support, and effects upon performance in golf

Abstract

In this study, we extended the work of Rees and Hardy (2004) by examining the main and stress-buffering effects of social support upon sports performance in a different context, using a different outcome measure, and a specific time-frame. A high-level performance sample of 117 male golfers (mean age 24.8, s ¼ 8.3) completed measures of social support and stressors before competitions. Performance outcome was recorded. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant (P 5 0.05) main effects for stressors upon performance in 8 of the 11 models tested (R 2 ¼ 0.08 -0.21). Over and above the variance accounted for by stressors, there were significant (P 5 0.05) main effects for social support upon performance in all models tested (DR 2 ¼ 0.10 -0.24). In all models, stressors were associated with worse performance, whereas social support was associated with better performance. There were no significant interactions (stress-buffering effects). Main effects for social support upon performance suggest that social support may have aided performance directly, regardless of the level of stress.

Organizational Stress and Coping in U.S. Professional Soccer

“…In addition, social support is considered to be a buffer to stress, as well as being a coping resource (e.g., Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) that helps people to manage the negative effect of stress (see Holt & Hoar, 2006). Crocker (1992) argued that social support is an important coping strategy in sport to deal with competitive stress, which has been verified by subsequent research on coping and social support (Gould, Guinan, Greenleaf, Medberty, & Peterson, 1999;Holt & Hogg, 2002;Rees & Hardy, 2004;Rees, Hardy, & Freeman, 2007).…”

Why Some Make It and Others Do Not: Identifying Psychological Factors That Predict Career Success in Professional Adult Soccer

“…Social support is defined as the perception or experience that one is loved and cared for by others, esteemed and valued, and part of a social network of mutual assistance and obligations (Taylor, 2007). Social support is typically associated with better sport perfor-mance (e.g., Rees, Hardy, & Freeman, 2007;Ward et al, 2007). Hence, the tendency to seek social support, particularly when confronted with problems or drawbacks (Cohen & Wills, 1985;Van Yperen, 1998), is likely to be associated with career success.…”

How Does Perceived Support Lead to Better Performance? An Examination of Potential Mechanisms

“…The same strategy has been used in previous social support research (e.g., Rees et al, 2007;Rees & Hardy, 2004), and follows two recommendations from the social support literature: a) social support measures should be relevant to the situational context in which they are being used; and b) social support researchers should write new items to capture specific aspects of the support needs of the target population (Bianco & Eklund, 2001;House & Kahn, 1985;Wills & Shinar, 2000). The development and use of situation-specific support measures is similar to the measurement strategy within self-efficacy research (Bandura, 1997), for which it is noted that a "one-measurefits-all" approach has only limited explanatory and predictive value.…”

“…performance-related factors in tennis (e.g., Rees & Hardy, 2004), and performance outcome in golf (Rees, Hardy, & Freeman, 2007). Despite this evidence, the specific mechanisms through which social support operates remain poorly understood (Lakey & Cohen, 2000;Saltzman & Holahan, 2002).…”