Citation

Thatcher J. Sport Exerc. Psychol. Rev. 2005; 1(1): 26-35.

Affiliation

University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, British Psychological Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined the stressors (threats and challenges) and impression management issues experienced by sports officials, as well as the links between the two. Twelve Rugby League officials attended semi-structured interviews which were analysed using content analysis procedures. Consistent with Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress, the same stressor was perceived as a threat by some individuals and as a challenge by others. Impression management was salient for these officials and more so for challenges (career development, others’ expectations, and match importance) than threats (expectations and evaluation and self-presentation), was linked with experienced stressors for some respondents. Cognitive restructuring may assist officials to reappraise threats as challenges and diminish concerns about impression management.