Abstract

This study reports a preliminary investigation of intensity and frequency of symptoms of competitive state anxiety. Track and field athletes (27 males, 22 females) responded to a modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) on four occasions during the period leading up to an important competition. The questionnaire included the existing CSAI-2 (intensity) scale as well as a frequency sclae for each of the 27 items of the CSAI-2. The intensity and frequency dimensions of each of the CSAI-2 sub-scale were then compared between the four conditions by means of two way analyses of variance (gender x time-to-competition). In the case of cognitive anxiety, time-to-event effects were observed for intensity and frequency. The intensity of the response was significantly greater at the final stage of testing than it was 2 days before competition, while the frequency of the response increased progressively throughout the experimental period. This dissociative patterning for the cognitive anxiety dimensions is dicussed in the light of Multidimensional Anxiety Theory predictions. For somatic anxiety, the time-to-event effects that emerged for intensity and frequency revealed that both values increased progressively as the time to compete neared, for both male and females. The results for self-confidence revealed no effects for intensity or frequency for either gender. The findings from structured follow-up interviews served to corrobarate these quantitative findings. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)