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Background: Competitive anxiety is a common stress response in competitive environments, influencing sports performance, particularly among elite swimmers. Purpose: This study aims to examine how the characteristics of competitive anxiety impact sports performance across different phases of competitive preparation, alongside its correlation with trait anxiety. Methods: A longitudinal research design, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, was employed with 20 swimmers from the Chinese national swimming team participating in both the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games. The mental readiness form-3 (MRF-3) scale was employed at four time points during the preparation period for longitudinal tracking, complemented by the trait anxiety inventory (T-AI) scale to assess trait anxiety. Results: The study identified a negative correlation between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety among elite swimmers, with confidence demonstrating a positive correlation. Additionally, there was a significant between trait anxiety and competitive anxiety (p < 0.05). Variations in competitive anxiety were found at different stages of the preparation cycle (F = 15.074; 11.627; 19.552, p < 0.05), impacting sport performance. Conclusion: To optimise performance, tailored psychological intervention programs should be developed and implemented to address the distinct characteristics of competitive anxiety experienced by elite swimmers throughout the preparation phases.

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Team sports athletes may encounter significant stress, leading to competitive anxiety. The anxiety levels can be influenced by team behaviors and achievement goals. This study aims to investigate the relationship between team behaviors (i.e., perceptions of controlling coaching behavior and team cohesion) and competitive anxiety, and to examine the mediation effects of achievement goals (i.e., task-oriented and ego-oriented) on the relationship. A total of 298 team-handball players were involved in the study, ages ranging from 16 to 24 years old (M = 18.44, SD = 3.09). A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze path coefficients and mediating effects. Findings indicated that perceptions of controlling coaching behaviors had significant positive predictions for state and somatic anxiety (ß = 0.22, 0.29) and negative predictions for self-confidence (ß = -0.19). Team cohesion had significant negative predictions for state anxiety (ß = -0.31) and positive predictions for self-confidence (ß = 0.58). In addition, ego-oriented goals play a positive mediating role in the relationship between team behaviors and competitive anxiety (ß = 0.03-0.35), while task-oriented goals play a negative mediating role in the relationship between team behaviors and competitive anxiety (ß = -0.18 - -0.03). In conclusion, team behaviors have a significant relationship with competitive anxiety, with achievement goals playing a mediating role among them. Therefore, to alleviate team sports athletes' competitive anxiety, it is recommended to reduce coach control behaviors, enhance team cohesion, and employ psychological training methods (e.g., mindfulness or meditation) to strengthen athletes' task-oriented goals.

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Introduction: Downhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport requiring high mental strength to perform on the best level in a competition with only one run to win the race. The substantial challenge here is to control automatic processes like competitive anxiety and stress. Hypnosis can address these automatic processes. We developed and evaluated a hypnosis audio-intervention to activate the optimal racing mindset. Methods: In our study, 19 elite Downhill Mountainbike athletes registered at two consecutive races of the IXS Downhill Cup. After the first race, athletes listened to the hypnosis audio-intervention. In this intervention, we instructed the athletes how to activate their optimal mental state before the second race. At both races, we measured competitive anxiety, stress, self-confidence, state resilience, and flow with validated questionnaires and assessed resting heart rate variability as physiological measure of resilience. Results: Race-related somatic anxiety and subjective stress decreased significantly while self-confidence increased significantly from first to second race after athletes listened to the hypnosis. Heart rate variability was significantly increased at the second race indicating elevated vagal activity. When comparing race results of our participants to a control group of other elite athletes competing in the races but not listening to the hypnosis, we found that our study participants generally performed better in both races. Conclusion: The study shows that our hypnosis intervention was effective in reducing competitive anxiety and stress while increasing perceived resilience and self-confidence: After a self-administered hypnosis session, athletes were able to improve automatic processes responsible for putting them in their mental pole position.

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Our aim in the present study was to test the efficacy of a 13-week, 19-session psychological intervention program on young soccer players' competitive anxiety and their sport psychological profiles. Participants were 37 players in the under-15 age category, of which 18 players formed the experimental group (M age = 14.67 years, SD = .48) and 19 players formed the control group (Mage = 14.23 years, SD = .42); this was a quasi-experimental design without random assignment to groups. We had all participants complete the Psychological Inventory of Sport Performance (IPED), the Questionnaire of Psychological Characteristics of Sport Performance (CPRD), and the Competition State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) before and after the intervention. Results indicated positive effects for the intervention group (but not the control group) on stress control and motivation dimensions of the CPRD, cognitive anxiety and self-confidence on the CSAI-2, and self-confidence and attentional control on the IPED. These results suggest that psychological training for athletes contributes to their improved psychological skills, providing them tools to better adapt to the competitive environment.

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Objective: In the domain of competitive events, Latin dance athletes have always suffered competitive anxiety, which is a prevalent and prevailing psychological facet, in pre-, intra-, and post-competitive engagements. Usually, the implementation of systematic desensitization training is an efficacious approach to reduce competitive anxiety levels in routine sports to fortify psychological resilience of athletes (like swimming, volleyball, and basketball). This study focuses on the effect of systematic desensitization training on competition anxiety in the training of Latin dancers to establish good mental ability and promote the competitive ability of athletes. Methodology: The "Sports Competition Anxiety Test Questionnaire" was used to evaluate and classify the competitive anxiety levels of 150 Latin dance athletes. Then, the top 48 participants were selected (24 in the intervention cohort and 24 in the non-intervention cohort) as the study participants after stratifying anxiety score levels from the highest to the lowest. The intervention group was treated with an 8-week psychological intervention by employing systematic desensitization training techniques (encompassing imagery desensitization and in vivo desensitization). The anxiety levels of the subjects were quantified by employing the "Sport Competition Trait Anxiety Inventory" (CCTAI-C) and the "Competitive State Anxiety Inventory" (CSAI-2) to scrutinize the efficacy of systematic desensitization training in regulating competitive anxiety levels among Latin dance athletes. Results: After applying systematic desensitization training, the intervention group displayed a notable reduction in sport cognitive trait anxiety. Specifically, there was a decrease of 29.37% in social evaluation anxiety, 20.31% in competition preparation anxiety, 16.98% in performance anxiety, 25.16% in failure anxiety, 34.47% in opponent's ability anxiety, and 25.16% in injury anxiety. Moreover, for competitive state anxiety, cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety decreased by 39.19 and 21.43%. The state self-confidence increased by 14.42%. Conclusion: The result indicated that systematic desensitization training not only mitigates anxiety but also positively intervenes in sports-related anxiety. Moreover, systematic desensitization training can significantly diminish competitive anxiety among Latin dance athletes to bolster confidence during competitions. Integrating desensitization training into the regular regimen of Latin dance practice has the potential to fortify dancers' psychological resilience against anxiety.

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BACKGROUND: In the current study, we conducted a comparative analysis involving three distinct groups: one receiving group-based rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), another undergoing a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), and a third group serving as the control. The aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of the two interventions on specific psychological (competitive anxiety, perfectionism, irrational beliefs), physiological (salivary cortisol levels), and neurocognitive (executive functions: working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility) functions in Hungarian junior ice hockey players. METHODS: The participants consisted of 10 females and 36 males (NREBT=12, NMINDFULNESS=14, NCONTROL=20). We used questionnaires to assess competitive anxiety, perfectionism, and irrational beliefs. The components of executive functions were measured using a computerized testing system, while cortisol levels were examined through salivary samples. Prior to and after the interventions, each participant underwent all measurements, after which we conducted repeated measures ANOVA on our data. RESULTS: We found REBT to be an effective intervention for the regulation of competitive anxiety, perfectionism, and irrational beliefs as well as for improving some components of executive functions (inhibition and cognitive flexibility). Mindfulness was found to improve athletes' processing speed and set-shifting abilities, which are related to cognitive flexibility and metacognitive processes. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we explore implications of these findings regarding how each approach is posited to enhance sports performance, using neurocognitive functions as a proxy. These findings are useful for further research and practical implications.

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Introduction: The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) is a validated measure of sports trait anxiety, with promising psychometric properties. However, its cross-cultural applicability in Chinese samples remains unexplored. Thus, the primary objectives of this study were twofold: to translate the SAS-2 into Chinese and assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version. Methods: In Study 1, we initiated the translation of the SAS-2 into Chinese. This assessment involved bilingual Chinese students proficient in both English and Chinese. Additionally, we conducted a cross-linguistic measurement invariance analysis. In Study 2, we delved into the psychometric properties of the Chinese SAS-2 using a sample of Chinese student athletes. This examination encompassed an evaluation of its factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance across genders. Results: Our findings in Study 1 indicated no significant differences in item scores between the Chinese SAS-2 and the English version, and measurement invariance across languages. In Study 2, we uncovered that the Chinese SAS-2 and its factors exhibited excellent reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values exceeding 0.80. Confirmatory factor analyses upheld the original three-factor model, demonstrating acceptable model fit indices (CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.08). Furthermore, all three factors of the Chinese SAS-2 displayed significant and positive correlations with athlete burnout and State-Trait anxiety. Additionally, this study elucidated the mediating role of Concentration Disruption (Somatic anxiety and Concentration Disruption) in the relationship between the Trait (State) anxiety, and athlete burnout. Moreover, we identified measurement invariance of the Chinese version of the SAS-2 across genders. Finally, female college athletes exhibited significantly higher scores in somatic anxiety and worry compared to their male counterparts. Discussion: In sum, our findings affirm that the Chinese version of the SAS-2 demonstrates robust reliability and correlates effectively with related criteria, thus validating its suitability for use in a Chinese context.

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Combat sports require participants to engage in potentially dangerous forms of contact-based competition. Pressure to succeed, coupled with the risk of severe injury can induce significant levels of anxiety, which if uncontrolled, can negatively impact performance and possibly promote unsporting conduct. The present study examined competitive anxiety levels of combat sports athletes and determined whether self-reported scores were associated with mental toughness and Sportspersonship attitudes. A cross-sectional survey design was used whereby participants (N = 194) completed a battery of questionnaires measuring competitive combat sport experiences, demographic details, Sportspersonship traits (compliance towards rules, respect for opponents, and game perspective), and competition anxiety (somatic, cognitive, and self-confidence; reported retrospectively). Results suggest that mentally tough athletes experience lower levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety, and higher self-confidence, prior to competitions. Findings also found that athletes endorsing more altruistic and respectful attitudes in sport (Sportspersonship) reported higher levels of competition anxiety. The findings demonstrate that mental toughness is allied to positive attributes and could potentially be operationalized to improve both the retention and performance of combat sports athletes. Thus, the authors advocate the use of mental toughness coaching interventions within combat sports.

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In the field of sport psychology, research on emotional intelligence and its relationship with other psychological variables to determine how it affects the athlete's performance is becoming more frequent and prevalent. Among these psychological variables, research in this field has focused on the evaluation of the influence of aspects such as motivation, leadership, self-concept, and anxiety. The main objective of this research is to analyze the levels of each of the dimensions of emotional intelligence (attention, clarity, and emotional regulation) and their relationship with each of the SCAT items to measure pre-competitive anxiety. To do so, we analyzed the influence that one psychological construct has on the other, in order to establish the type of relationships that are established between them. The design of this research corresponds to be transversal, observational, quantitative, and descriptive. The sample consisted of 165 students belonging to university degrees (bachelor's and master's) related to physical activity and sport sciences. The main finding of this study allows us to affirm the relationship between emotional intelligence and anxiety. This confirms the hypothesis that anxiety is an indispensable component of any competitive situation, and that neither the total absence of anxiety nor high levels of it leads to better sports performance. Therefore, sport psychology should focus on the emotional preparation of athletes so that they can manage and control their anxiety at intermediate levels, which in addition to being typical of a competitive situation, is also synonymous with good sporting performance.

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BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the stress tolerance, competitive anxiety, heart rate variability and salivary cortisol before and during successive futsal competitive matches (3 matches in 4 days) in young male futsal players. METHODS: 10 young male futsal players (16.9 ± 0.7 age; 71.0 ± 5.1 kg; 174.9 ± 4.3 cm) were monitored during one training session and across a competitive period with 3 successive matches. External load was determined by the PlayerLoad method, while session rating of perceived exertion was used to calculate the internal training and competitive load. The stress tolerance was examined using Daily Analysis of Life Demand in Athletes questionnaire and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory was used to analyze the competitive anxiety. The Time and frequency monitoring parameters were used to analyze the vagal cardiac autonomic marker. sC was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: A generalized estimating equation showed a significant difference for PlayerLoad from M1 to TS, M2 and M3, from M2 to M3 (p < 0.05), and for session rating of perceived exertion from M1 to Ts and M3 (p < 0.05). A difference for sources [χ2 (3) = 1.481, p = 0.68] or symptoms [χ2 (3) = 3.893, p = 0.27] was not found. There was no significant difference in any of the competitive anxiety [cognitive anxiety (F (1.644; 14.799) = 4.6, p = 0.73, ŋ2 p = 0.28), somatic anxiety (F (2,09; 18,85) = 26.07 p = 0.057; ŋ2p = 0.27) or self-confidence (F(2.07; 18.85) = 15.875 p = 0.152; ŋ2p = 0.18)] domains. The HRV parameters (time domain and frequency) and Salivary Cortisol (sC) (χ2 (3) = 4.320 p = 0.229) did not significantly change during the successive matches. CONCLUSION: The competitive scenario in which the players were evaluated did not significantly modify the stress tolerance, or the athletes' state of anxiety, which in turn was not able to promote changes in the cardiac vagal modulation or in the sC levels before the matches.

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This study aimed to investigate athletes' hypothetical use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a behavior similar to doping, and its association with doping attitudes, competitive anxiety and situational opportunity. One hundred twenty-two sport science students completed an online survey assessing biographical information, doping attitudes, and competitive anxiety. Students' intention to use analgesics was measured via two different hypothetical situations using the vignette technique. The favorable situation included an absence of potential witnesses and presence of an attractive good whereas witnesses were present in the unfavorable situation and an attractive goal was absent. The results of two hierarchical multiple regression models showed that doping attitudes and competitive anxiety, especially worry, predicted the use of analgesics. In the situation featuring a favorable opportunity, worry was the strongest predictor, whereas in the situation of an unfavorable opportunity, doping attitudes was the strongest predictor for using NSAIDs. Results indicate that NSAID use is associated with positive attitudes toward doping and competitive anxiety, and that it is situationally dependent. Future research perspectives and practical implications are discussed.

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In this study the influence of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the emergence of competitive anxiety was investigated. While previous studies indicate that higher irrational beliefs predict greater competitive anxiety, in the present study it is hypothesized that this relationship is mediated by perfectionism. A serial atemporal multiple mediation analysis revealed that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism were significant partial mediators between irrational beliefs and competitive anxiety. The total score and all four subscale scores on irrational beliefs had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive competitive anxiety, the latter effects mediated by both forms of perfectionism. Depreciation beliefs had a direct effect, and demandingness and awfulizing had indirect effects, on somatic competitive anxiety when both forms of perfectionism were entered as mediators. These findings suggest that both irrational beliefs and perfectionism influence the emergence of competitive anxiety, therefore rational emotive behavioral therapy with a focus upon perfectionism may be an effective means of reducing competitive anxiety in athletes.

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BACKGROUND: This study assessed relationships and sex differences between psychological state (recovery, stress, anxiety, and self-confidence) and gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) prior to and during a 56 km ultramarathon running race and identified predictive factors of race GIS. Forty-four (26 males, 18 females) ultramarathon competitors completed anxiety, recovery, stress and GIS questionnaires for three days prior to the race and immediately pre-race. Race GIS were assessed immediately post-race. Spearman's rank order, Mann-Whitney U tests and regression analyses were used to determine correlations and identify sex differences between psychological state and GIS and determine predictors of race GIS. RESULTS: Race GIS were significantly correlated with recovery (rs = - 0.381, p = 0.011), stress (rs = 0.500, p = 0.001) and anxiety (rs = 0.408, p = 0.006), calculated as the mean of the three days preceding the race and on race morning. The correlation between anxiety and GIS was strongest in the 24 h immediately prior to the race (all rs > 0.400, and all p < 0.05), but unclear patterns were identified for stress and recovery. Regression analyses showed 36% and 40% of variation in the severity and number of race GIS was accounted for by body mass and measures of stress, anxiety, and GIS over the three days preceding the race and on race morning (both p < 0.001). There were no sex differences in the number and severity of GIS leading up to or during the race (all p > 0.05), however, females reported greater state anxiety (p = 0.018) and lower self-confidence than males (p = 0.006) over the three days preceding the race and on race morning. CONCLUSION: Endurance athletes that experience GIS during competition should investigate elevated stress and/or anxiety as a potential contributor and identify if management strategies can reduce the occurrence and severity of GIS.

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El árbitro de fútbol se enfrenta a situaciones estresantes durante la competición deportiva mientras que lleva a cabo acciones físicas de gran exigencia para estar cerca de la jugada que conlleva una demanda fisiológica elevada. Los objetivos de este estudio son conocer las diferentes respuestas físicas, fisiológicas y psicológicas y sus interrelaciones en competición real en árbitros de fútbol amateurs y analizar el efecto de la categoría arbitrada con las características psicológicas relacionadas con el rendimiento. Participaron 15 árbitros pertenecientes al Comité Andaluz de Árbitros de Fútbol y se recogieron datos en 21 partidos de sus correspondientes ligas durante la temporada 2016-2017. Los resultados indicaron que los árbitros tienen una respuesta fisiológica menor en la segunda parte del partido, poseen mayor ansiedad somática y menor autoconfianza, control del estrés, motivación, habilidad mental y cohesión de equipo en los partidos de competición en comparación con la muestra basal (p < .05). Existen diversas correlaciones psico-fisiológicas entre el control del estrés con frecuencia cardíaca menor al 80% (positiva) y con frecuencia cardíaca superior al 80% (negativa) (p < .05). Como conclusión, el árbitro de fútbol amateur se expone a situaciones de estrés, el cual, el control de ésta, guarda relación con las respuestas fisiológicas producidas en competición, de forma que los árbitros con menor control del estrés desarrollan más respuestas fisiológicas en competición, lo que puede provocar tomar decisiones con un grado elevado de fatiga. Estos hallazgos pueden aconsejar al árbitro de fútbol complementar los entrenamientos con programas de intervención psicológicos para aumentar el control del estrés.(AU)

O árbitro de futebol enfrenta situações estressantes durante a competição esportiva enquanto realiza ações físicas de grande exigência para estar perto do jogo que implica uma demanda fisiológica elevada. Os objetivos deste estudo são conhecer as diferentes respostas físicas, fisiológicas e psicológicas e suas inter-relações em competição real em árbitros de futebol amadores e analisar o efeito da categoria arbitrada com as características psicológicas relacionadas com o desempenho. Participaram 15 árbitros pertencentes ao Comité Andaluz de Árbitros de Futebol e foram recolhidos dados em 21 jogos das suas ligas durante a temporada 2016-2017. Os resultados indicaram que os árbitros têm uma resposta fisiológica menor na segunda parte do partido, possuem maior ansiedade somática e menor autoconfiança, controle do estresse, motivação, capacidade mental e coesão de equipa nos jogos de competição em comparação com a amostra basal (p < .05). Existem diversas correlações psico-fisiológicas entre o controle do estresse com freqüência cardíaca inferior a 80% (positiva) e com freqüência cardíaca superior a 80% (negativa) (p < .05). Em conclusão, o árbitro de futebol amador expõe-se a situações de stress que, sob o seu controlo, estão relacionadas com as respostas fisiológicas produzidas em competição, de forma que os árbitros com menor controle do estresse desenvolvem mais respostas fisiológicas em competição, o que pode provocar decisões com um elevado grau de fadiga. Estes achados podem aconselhar o árbitro de futebol a complementar os treinos com programas de intervenção psicológicos para aumentar o controle do estresse.(AU)

The football referee faces stressful situations during the sports competition while performing physical actions of great demand to be close to the play that entails a high physiological demand. The objectives of this study are to know the different physical responses, physiological and psychological and their interrelationships in real competition in amateur football referees and analyze the effect of the referee category with the psychological characteristics related to performance. 15 referees from the Andalusian Committee of Football Referees participated and data were collected in 21 matches of their respective leagues during the 2016-2017 season. The results indicated that the referees have a lower physiological response in the second part of the game, have greater somatic anxiety and lower self-confidence, stress control, motivation, mental ability and team cohesion in competition matches compared to baseline (p < .05). There are several psycho-physiological correlations between stress control with heart rate less than 80% (positive) and heart rate greater than 80% (negative) (p < .05). In conclusion, the amateur football referee is exposed to situations of stress, which, control of this, is related to physiological responses produced in competition, so that referees with less stress control develop more physiological responses in competition, which can lead to decisions with a high degree of fatigue. These findings may advise the football referee to supplement training with psychological intervention programs to increase stress control.(AU)

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O presente manuscrito teve o objetivo de avaliar a variabilidade dos níveis de ansiedade pré-competitiva de atletas de Basquetebol ao longo de uma competição, utilizando-se de um estudo de caso. Para isso, acompanhou-se uma pequena amostra de um clube, que foi escolhida por conveniência. O estudo foi composto por 27 atletas de Basquetebol das categorias de base do clube, com idade entre 13 e 15 anos (M = 14,00, DP ± 0,733) e todos do sexo masculino, pertencentes a duas categorias da base: sub-15 e sub-14, que eram treinados pela mesma comissão técnica. Os atletas participaram do estudo de forma voluntária. Os participantes preencheram o termo de assentimento, pois todos eram menores de idade, e seus responsáveis preencheram o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido. Após essa etapa, todos os atletas responderam ao CSAI-2r, o qual foi respondido em seis jogos ao longo do campeonato, sendo o primeiro jogo a estreia das equipes e o sexto jogo a final da competição. No presente estudo, como não houve normalidade dos dados, utilizou -se de testes não paramétricos para análises dos resultados. Os resultados demonstraram que não houve diferenças entre as equipes, para nenhuma variável e jogo avaliado (p>0,05). Os atletas investigados apresentaram, durante toda a competição, elevados níveis de autoconfiança e baixos níveis de ansiedade (somática e cognitiva) (p<0,05 em todos os jogos). Além disso, no decorrer da competição os atletas conseguiram, diminuir os níveis de ansiedade somática (p<0,05). Por fim, pode-se concluir que os atletas investigados não apresentaram elevados níveis de ansiedade, pois a autoconfiança foi significativamente (p<0,05) superior, e apresentaram variabilidade apenas para ansiedade somática (p<0,05) ao long. (AU)

The present manuscript aimed to assess the variability of the pre-competitive anxiety levels of Basketball athletes throughout a competition, using a case study. For this, a small sample of a club was followed, which was chosen for convenience. The study consisted of 27 basketball athletes from the club's grassroots categories, aged between 13 and 15 years (M = 14,00, DP ± 0,733) old and all male, belonging to two categories of the base: sub-15 and sub-14, who were trained by the same technical committee. The athletes participated in the study voluntarily. The participants filled out the consent form, since all were minors, and their guardians filled out the free and informed consent form. After this stage, all athletes responded to CSAI-2r, which was answered in six games throughout the championship, the first game being the teams' debut and the sixth game the final of the competition. In the present study, as there was no normality of the data , non-parametric tests were used to analyze the results. The results showed that there were no differences between the teams, for any variable the game evaluated (p>0,05). The investigated athletes presented, throughout the competition, high levels of self-confidence and low levels of anxiety (somatic and cognitive) (p<0,05 in all games). In addition, during the competition, the athletes were able to reduce the levels of somatic anxiety (p <0,05). Finally, it can be concluded that the investigated athletes did not show high levels of anxiety, as their self-confidence was significantly (p <0.05) higher, and showed variability only for somatic anxiety (p <0.05) throughout the competition (decreased scores), given that cognitive anxiety and self-confidence did not show variability throughout the competition (p> 0.05). (AU)

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BACKGROUND: A factor favoring the swimming performance increase is the adaptation and readaptation of body energetic and functional systems to the physical and mental stress stimuli in training and competitions. The efficiency of monitoring the young swimmers' training is based on a precise determination of the changes in the specific adaptations. The evaluation and control of the biochemical, mental and motor changes ensure the knowledge of the particularities of body adaptation in different training stages. METHODS: Six young swimmers aged 12-16 years specialized in 100 m event participated in this study, conducted in four stages (E1-general, E2-specific, E3-pre-competitive and E4-competitive). The distress occurrence during adaptation to training and competition stimuli was studied in 3 levels: mental (Cohen & Williamson Test (CWT), Cohen Perceived Stress Test (CPST), Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT), Craciun Test (CT)), motor (workouts monitoring, planning of means on training areas, anaerobic threshold assessment and average training speed calculation) and biochemical (blood lactate (La) and blood glucose (Glu) before and after effort-5 and 15 minutes; level of metabolic biochemical parameters, lymphocytes and blood glucose, and also hormonal parameters-norepinephrine, prolactin and cortisol-before and after competition effort). RESULTS: Quantity results of the mental, motor and biochemical tests were analyzed in groups; the quality results for each subject in dynamics were analyzed by comparison and correlation. Psychological tests showed increases in athletes' mental behavior by 34% at CWT (p < 0.05), by 37.5% at CPST (p < 0.05), average stress level at SCAT and 70% stress in self-confidence at CT (p < 0.01). Biochemical tests revealed an ascending dynamics of La accumulated after specific effort, with peaks in E2 period (p < 0.05) and decreases in E3 compared to E2 (p < 0.05), revealing the adaptation to specific effort and the increase in anaerobic capacity. The Glu values decrease in pre-effort and increase in minute 5 and 15 post-effort (p < 0.05) in E2 and decrease in pre- and post- effort in E3 (p < 0.05), showing the effort impact on body and ability to recover after effort. Athletes' individual metabolic results were 50% above maximum values, mainly post-effort (42%); hormonal results were 17% over maximum values, mainly post-effort (14%). Spearman's correlative analysis of the induced-stress stimuli in workouts revealed 6.06% significant correlations at p < 0.05 and 9.1% strong connections in competitions: 4.67% significant correlations at p < 0.05 and 6.4% strong connections. CONCLUSION: The research demonstrated that the mental and biochemical tests results correlation with the specific motor tests facilitated the correct individualization of effort orientation in training and recovery and contributed to the knowledge of the particularities of young swimmers' body adaptation to training and competition effort.

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This research aims to analyse the differences in optimism, resilience, engagement and competitive anxiety as a function of the sport modality practiced in lifeguarding (individual sport) and futsal (team sport); the sport category by age (cadet or youth) and gender. The LOT-R optimism questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Competitive Anxiety Scale (SAS-2) were applied to a sample of 189 participants (139 men and 50 womwn) aged between 14 and 17 years. The following statistical tests are performed: Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's linear correlation, Student's t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Levene's test and multivariate linear regression. The data indicate that there are significant gender differences in total anxiety (p <0.001) and all its dimensions (somatic, worry, worry-free), also in optimism and pessimism (p < 0.001), as well as in total engagement (p = 0.051) and the absorption dimension (p < 0.001). When comparing the sample by sport categories, there are statistically significant differences in somatic anxiety (p = 0.036) and deconcentration (p = 0.034), as well as in LOT-total (p ≤ 0.001) and pessimism (p ≤ 0.001). In relation to the sport modalities, lifeguards show more anxiety 38.39 (0.49) and more commitment 4.58 (0.87) while futsal athletes reach higher scores in deconcentration 8.45 (2.29). It is concluded that the variables of commitment and resilience had a statistically significant positive effect, and the category of <16 years had a statistically significant negative effect, so the lower the category, the higher the optimism.

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The present research focused on the general theme of perfectionism in the sport domain, and it provided the first empirical validation of the original 72-item "Multidimensional Inventory of Perfectionism in Sport" (MIPS) among Italian athletes. The study, specifically, also focused on the relations linking personal and interpersonal components of perfectionism to athletes' competitive anxiety. The research overall relied on data from 644 Italian sport science students and professional athletes and included both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Data analyses primarily focused on structural equation modeling, and the findings overall supported the psychometric and construct validity of the Italian version of the MIPS, also highlighting the key role of the personal components of perfectionism.

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The objective of the research was to evaluate the perceptions about the psychological variables of cohesion and motivational climate that AGG gymnasts have about the context created by the coaches in their teams and to analyze in the different categories the optimism and competitive anxiety they face in competitive situations. In an attempt to clarify the psychosocial training patterns in this sport and the influence they have on the well-being of its practitioners, competitive anxiety, motivational climate, team cohesion and level of optimism were taken as dependent variables. The sample was made up of 98 national and international junior and senior athletes in the aesthetic gymnastics group aged 13 to 27 (M = 17.1; SD = 2.8). The Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire for motivational climate, the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 for competitive anxiety, the Group Environment Questionnaire for cohesion and the Revised Life Orientation Test for optimism were used in the evaluation. The results obtained show a positive and statistically significant correlation between anxiety and ego involvement, while, for task involvement, high levels of cohesion are associated with high levels of optimism (p = 0.005). In conclusion, the data confirm that high levels of cohesion are associated with high levels of optimism, in addition high scores on task involvement show high scores on cohesion and optimism, however high scores on ego involvement are associated with low scores on cohesion and optimism.

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Background: Excessive competitive anxiety induces adverse effects on athletic performance and planning efficient management methods is crucial. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of acupuncture on competitive anxiety. Methods: In this cross-over study, 20 male soccer players under 21 years (U-21) were randomized equally into acupuncture or control groups. The acupuncture group received acupuncture on fifteen anxiety-related points and the control group received acupuncture on fifteen points unrelated to anxiety for thirty minutes. We measured the participants' resting heart rate and galvanic skin conduction and asked them to answer the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) questionnaire at baseline and the end of the intervention. Results: We detected a significant treatment effect in the cognitive anxiety level (-1.05 ± 0.91; p = 0.02) but not in the somatic anxiety level (-0.46 ± 1.68; p = 0.43), Sport Self-Confidence (-1.06 ± 2.21; p = 0.11), heart rate (0.20 ± 2.2; p = 0.93), and skin conductance (-0.50 ± 0.77; p = 0.19). Conclusion: Based on these results, acupuncture might decrease cognitive anxiety but might not affect somatic anxiety.

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