RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND COMPETITIVE TRAIT ANXIETY:
DOES IT DIFFER AS A FUNCTION OF GENDER IN A SAMPLE OF
There have been numerous studies of competitive trait anxiety on the performance and mood states of both professional and non-professional athletes (e.g., Pokrajac, 1982; Man, Stuchlikova & Kindlmann, 1995; Martin & Gill, 1991; Cooley, 1987). Some of these have examined for relationships between self-esteem and competitive trait anxiety in relation to a variety of mood states and variety of sport performance behaviors as well as in relation to each other.
For example, in one study of self-esteem and competitive trait anxiety, Lewthwaite and Scanlan (1989) examined for predictors of competitive trait anxiety in male youth sport participants (N=76) in a competitive wrestling program, as well as for relationships between the measures and several mood/cognitive states. All athletes in the study were required to complete the Sport Competition Anxiety Test, a self-description questionnaire designed to measure self-esteem, and other instruments assessing mood.
Findings of the study indicated that subjects with more frequent competitive trait anxiety symptoms had lower self-esteem. Regarding mood, those with high levels of competitive trait anxiety and low levels of self-esteem reported greater upset if they performed poorly; also, they expressed a preference for avoiding a tournament match.
Another finding in Lewthwaite and Scanlan's (1989) study was that anxiety symptoms were associated with negative mood states involving precompetitive worries about failure and worries about adult expectations and evaluation. Subjects with more frequent worries about failure placed greater importance on wrestling well and felt more upset when they performed poorly. Frequent adult-related worries were predicted by greater personal upset for poor performance and perceptions of greater parental and coach shame an...