Abstract

This study examined changes in cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence as measured by the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 in a sample of 50 female high school gymnasts prior to their performances at a practice session, dual meet, and district championship meet. The purpose of the study was to examine (1) the relationship between state anxiety and performance setting, (2) experience, and (3) difficulty of the movement task. Analysis showed that at the dual meet athletes experienced significantly greater cognitive and somatic anxiety and lower self-confidence than at the practice or district championship. State anxiety did not vary significantly with the athletes over-all experience or the difficulty of the routines they performed. The unexpected finding that the dual meet was the most anxiety-provoking was attributed to the greater uncertainty of outcome in a competition and the fact that the dual meet occurred early in the season. Verf.-Referat