Citation

Hanton S, Connaughton D. Res. Q. Exerc. Sport 2002; 73(1): 87-97.

Affiliation

School of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Wales Institute, Cyncoed, Cardiff, United Kingdom. SHanton@uwic.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11926488

Abstract

This study examined performers' retrospective explanations of the relationship between anxiety symptoms, self-confidence, and performance. Interviews were used to determine how the presence of symptoms and the accompanying directional interpretation affected performance in six elite and six subelite swimmers. Causal networks revealed that perceived control was the moderatingfactor in the directional interpretation of anxiety and not the experience of anxiety symptoms alone. Symptoms perceived to be under control were interpreted to have facilitative consequences for performance; however, symptoms not under control were viewed as debilitative. Increases or decreases in self-confidence wereperceived to improve or lower performance. Findings reveal how cognitive and somatic information was processed, what strategies were adopted, and how this series of events related to performance.

Language: en