Anxiety of students practising competitive sports: Part of a vicious circle, or not?

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the presence and the level of anxiety in the case of students who practise competitive sports. There were 102 participants (27 females and 75 males) who were selected from within the students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports. At that time, all the students were practising sports at professional level. The Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) was applied and the results showed that the average level of anxiety in the group was low. It was not related to the athletes' experience or to the competition level, but to gender and/or type of sports. The female athletes presented a significantly higher level of anxiety (p=0.0011), and the athletes who practise individual sports were also more anxious compared to those who practise team sports (p=0.0355). Those involved in training performance athletes should apply specific methods of lowering anxiety, particularly, to these categories. When the anxiety level has a negative effect on one or more aspects of athletic performance, is the moment when anxiety steps into the vicious circle.