The relationship between competitive state anxiety, self-confidence and attentional control in atletes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between competitive state anxiety, self-confidence and attentional control. The impact of the number of years’ experience in sporting practice on these variables was also analysed. Our study considered the following hypotheses: high levels of attentional control will be related to lower levels of competitive state anxiety, and higher levels of self-confidence. As well as competitive state anxiety and self-confidence will be significant predictors of attentional control; and athletes with more experience in their sport will have higher levels of attentional control and self-confidence, in addition to lower levels of competitive state anxiety. The sample consisted of 833 Spanish athletes, and the data analyses included calculation of descriptive statistics, a regression analysis and a comparative analysis, using an unpaired t-test, based on the number of years of sport experience. The results partially confirmed these hypotheses, providing evidence for the connection between anxiety and self-confidence with attentional control in sport, as well as confirming the impact of sport experience on self-confidence and competitive state anxiety. This research has implications for understanding which type of characteristics may help athletes develop good attentional control.