Research in Physical Education, Sport and Health
2014, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 59-61
ISSN(Print):1857-8152; ISSN(Online):1857-8160
ANXIETY AMONG ATHLETES-BASKETBALL PLAYER AND NONATHLETES
DURING THE MEDIUM ADOLESCENCE
UDC: 796.07:159.942.5-053.6
(Original scientific paper)
Lence A. Velickovska1, Lena Damovska2, Ivan Anastasovski1, Tajana Koteva-Mojsovska3
1
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Faculty of Physical Education, Skopje, Macedonia
2
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Faculty of Philosophy, Skopje, Macedonia
3
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, St. Kliment Ohridski Faculty of Pedagogy
Abstract
The subject of this research is the psychological trait of anxiety as a feature and state of the
personality among basketball players and non-athletes in middle adolescence. The sample of 40
respondents, 20 non-athletes and 20 basketball players was studied in order to determine the differences
in the level of psychological trait of anxiety in middle adolescence period. The research applied four
variables to test anxiety: 1 - TAI - anxiety that is treated as a disposition, as a relatively permanent
feature of the person that appears as a propensity to react with anxiety in situations that are considered
to be threatening; 2 - KA - cognitive-anxiety; 3 - SA - somatic anxiety and 4 - CAM – self-confidence.
Pursuant to the results obtained from the applied one-variant analysis of the variance, the statistically
important inter-group differences have been determined in variables used in assessing anxiety among
basketball players and non-athletes in the period of middle adolescence.
Key Words: adolescence, anxiety, sports, univariate analysis
Introduction
Anxiety is a psychological phenomenon that affects the overall behavior of a person, and hence on
sport success as well. This impact can be positive and supportive or negative and inhibitory. Positive or
supportive impact of anxiety among athletes will result in greater mobilization of the available forces and
capabilities that will still lead to increased motivation, perseverance and concentration in a successful
sports competition. Negative or inhibitory effect of anxiety among athletes will diminish the potential
forces necessary for successful play, reducing the power of concentration, dwindling the motivation,
followed up by the feeling of inferiority, suspicion and mistrust in their own abilities. And that certainly
means poor sport results or defeat.
It is very interesting and important to note that in most cases the emotional distress is caused by
anxiety. The state of anxiety in sport is commonly perceived as a conflict between the desires, needs and
the pursuit to achieve the target on one hand, and on the other hand tremors, malaise, anxiety, fear that the
goal can not be achieved, and fear of the consequences that come from the failure to reach the goal.
Anxiety may appear, firstly, as a structural feature of the person, and secondly, as a state variable
related to a particular situation. Studies have indicated that the level of anxiety is higher and more
prevalent when it occurs as a personality trait.
This paper explores the emotional trait of anxiety as a feature and as a condition of the person.
This research studies the psychological trait of anxiety both as a feature and a state of personality in
basketball athletes and non-athletes, during middle adolescence.
The aim of the research is to determine the differences in the level of psychological trait of anxiety
among basketball players and non-athletes during the mid-adolescence.
Мethod of operation
Sample of respondents
The sample of respondents was drawn from the population of male athletes. The total sample includes 40
respondents, 20 basketball players from KK Junior and 20 non-athletes.
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ANXIETY AMONG ATHLETES-BASKETBALL PLAYER …
Sample of variables for anxiety analysis
Variable 1 - termed as TAI - anxiety that is treated as a disposition, as a relatively permanent feature
of the person that appears as a propensity to react with anxiety in situations that are considered to be
threatening.
Variable 2 - termed KA - cognitive anxiety.
Variable 3 - termed SA - somatic anxiety.
Variable 4 - marked as volatile - confidence.
Measuring Instruments
For assessment of the psychological trait of anxiety in subjects, tests used have existed for a long time
and have found their successful application in many previous studies, here and abroad, mostly applied by
sports psychologists:
- TAI test - a test for general anxiety. Constructed by Spilberger and cooperators (1970). The test has
two scales: one to measure anxiety as the current state and the other to measure anxiety as a disposition,
as a relatively permanent feature of personality. This research used the second form to obtain data on how
the individual is inclined to react with anxiety to different situations. This paper used the TAI scale (the
Talt Anxiety Inventary) which contains 20 items.
- The SCAT (Sport competition anxiety test) (according to Martens, 1990) – is an analysis of
competition anxiety. The test has three scales: cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-esteem.
Method of data processing
Data were processed from the basic statistical parameters: the arithmetic mean (X), a standard
deviation (SD), minimum score (MIN) and maximum score (MAX), and the normality of the distribution
of results is tested with the procedure of Kolmogorov and Smirnov (KS). Differences between groups as
for variables of assessing anxiety among basketball players and non-athletes of middle adolescence are
determined by the one-variant analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data are processed with statistical package
SPSS for Windows Version 20.0.
Results
Table 1 shows a descriptive statistics and the results of the applied one-variant analysis of variance
determining the inter-group differences in variables for assessing anxiety among basketball players and
non-athletes in the period of middle adolescence. Statistically significant one-variant and inter-group
differences are determined in variable cognitive anxiety (F = 24,39, p =, 00), somatic anxiety (F = 29,26,
p =, 00), self-esteem (F = 31,65, p =, 00) and general anxiety (F = 13,12, p =, 00). From the values of the
means and the level of statistical significance of the F-tests, it is obvious that basketball players during the
mid adolescence show less cognitive, somatic and general anxiety (TAI). On the other hand non-athletes
in mid adolescence showed slightly higher confidence as compared to athletes-basketball players.
Tabela1. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance
Mean
KA
SA
SAM
TAI
60
SD
Min
Max
Athletes
20,10
3,70
13,00
26,00
Non-athletes
All grrup
Athletes
Non-athletes
All grrup
Athletes
Non-athletes
All grrup
Athletes
Non-athletes
27,00
23,55
15,60
21,35
18,48
26,05
31,25
28,65
34,45
41,05
5,04
5,59
1,93
4,34
4,41
3,12
2,71
3,91
3,71
7,26
19,00
13,00
13,00
14,00
13,00
21,00
27,00
21,00
25,00
24,00
36,00
36,00
21,00
28,00
28,00
34,00
36,00
36,00
41,00
56,00
All grrup
37,75
6,60
24,00
56,00
F
Sig
24,39
0,00
29,26
0,00
31,65
0,00
13,12
0,00
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L. A. Velickovska et. al.
Although this paper presents a preliminary experimental research which does not experimentally deal
with the relationship between anxiety and competition, the above-cited relations will be briefly explained
theoretically. Of course, the relation of anxiety and performance on matches can be viewed through the
theory of "reverse-U", (Yerkes i Dodson, 1908, according to Weinberg i Gould, 1995). In accordance
with this theory are the results of Klavore, Sonstroem and Bernarda (according to Grasso, 1999), who
discovered the "reverse-U" in the relation between the state of anxiety and sports performance. Certainly,
the high levels of pre-competition anxiety is associated with lower performance, which means that
excessive anxiety can have a negative impact. In accordance with the theory, the authors estimated that
increasing anxiety leads to improved performance but only up to a certain level. The further raise in
anxiety is harmful and successful performance weakens. Hanin developed a theory known as the "zone of
optimal functioning (" ZOF "later referred to as" IZOF ") which states that every individual has an
optimal level (Weinberg i Gould, 1995) at which the performance and anxiety are associated, i.-e the level
of performance is maximum.
Martens and colleagues (Martens et. Al., 1990) concluded that there is a negative linear relationship
between cognitive anxiety and performance, and a positive linear relationship between confidence and
performance in games.
The authors suggest that somatic anxiety is a nonlinear relation with the performance at competitions,
which means that the physiological symptoms can help or impede the athlete at a competition. Imlay and
coworkers (according to Grasso, 1999) concluded that pre-competition anxiety can be controlled by
using experience from previous games to assess performance during very anxious situations.
The performance of the competition was better when pre-competition anxiety was within the optimum
level for the individual athlete. However the benefits of such memories are limited by processes of
forgetting. Martinez and colleagues (Martens et. Al., 1990) found that an increase in cognitive anxiety is
detrimental to performance, while the small increase in somatic anxiety can be beneficial. The same
authors, studying the high school population, found that as competition intensifies, somatic anxiety
grows, and cognitive anxiety and self-esteem decreases.
Multiple authors (according to Russell i Cox, 2001) suggest that anxiety is related to the level of sports
skill development so that in the the top athletes anxiety somehow facilitates performance.
Hanton and Jones (according to Russell i Cox, 2001) think that, over time, top athletes develop
cognitive strategy that allows the detection and interpretation of pre-competition symptoms.
Conclusion
The training and sports are not the only situations in which children experience stress and anxiety.
However, coaches and teachers need to minimize the adverse effects of training and matches. This is one
way to maximize the feeling of success and minimize failure. Anxiety decreases when uncertainty and
ignorance of an event is reduced, thought Payne and Isacs (Payne i Isacs, 2002). Same authors believe
that children who feel competent are less threatened and obtain better results in competitions.
Literature
Davis, J.E., Cox, R. H. (2002). Interpreting Direction of Anxiety Within Hanin’s Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning.
Journal Of Applied Sport Psychology, 14: 43–52.
Grasso, A.T. (1999). The Relationship Of Competitive State Anxiety And AthleticPerformance In High School Basketball
Players. Master Thesis. Sprienfield College.
Martens, R., Vealey, R. S., & Burton, D. (1990) Competitive anxiety in sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Payne, G.V., Isaacs, L.D. (2002). Human motor development: a lifespan approach. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Russell, W.D., Cox, R. H. (2002). Construct Validity of the Anxiety Rating Scale -2 with Youth Wrestlers. Athletic Insight The
Online Journal of Sport Psychology.
Weinberg, R.S., Gould, D. (1995). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. Human Kinetics. Champaign, Illinois.
Sewell, D., & Edmondson, A. (1996). Relationships between field position and pre-match competitive state anxiety in soccer an
field hockey. International Journal of Sport Psychology. 27, 159-172.
Corresponding Author
Lence A. Velickovska
Faculty of Physical Education, Sport and Health
Skopje, 1000
Macedonia,
E-mail: [email protected]
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