Competitive state anxiety and performance in young female rhythmic gymnasts

Percept Mot Skills. 2011 Apr;112(2):549-60. doi: 10.2466/05.09.20.PMS.112.2.549-560.

Abstract

The study was designed to examine the competitive state anxiety and self-confidence of rhythmic gymnasts participating in the Greek national competition. 86 participants, ages 11 and 12 years, completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, 1 hr. before competition. The athletes, classified by performance (high and low performance) and participation in the finals (finalists and nonfinalists), responded to the three subscales: Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, and Self-confidence. Analyses indicated differences in Self-confidence between high versus low performance groups and finalists versus nonfinalists. No significant differences were found on Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety. In a regression analysis, Self-confidence was the only significant predictor of performance for this sample. Implications refer to the development of strategies to enhance self-confidence in order to improve the gymnast's performance during competition.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Arousal
  • Athletic Performance*
  • Child
  • Competitive Behavior*
  • Female
  • Gymnastics / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychometrics
  • Self Concept