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Title of diploma paper: Effect of anxiety on the athlete's sports performance in flatwater canoeing. Objectives: The aim of the study was to find out the values of competitive state anxiety and evaluate its influence on sports performance in a race. Methods: The questionnaire method CSAI-2 has been used to determine the values of the components of competitive state anxiety. The observed values were statistically compared with the standards of the best athletes and then analyzed with the performances of athletes in individual races. The dependence of the variable values was determined by correlation and regression analysis. Results: Flatwater kayakers and canoeists have higher cognitive and somatic anxiety and lower self- confidence compared to other athletes. In the test group flatwater kayakers, we managed to demonstrate that the higher the values of cognitive and somatic anxiety, the higher the negative effect on the athlete's sports performance. Higher values of self-confidence affect performance positively. The dependence of the variable values has been identified as medium to high at the 5% significance level. In the case of flatwater canoeists, this dependence has not been statistically proven. Self-confidence of the athlete is positively affected by higher age and experience. Keywords:...

<p>Elevated levels of anxiety are a common response to stressful competitive sports situations, are known to moderate athletic performance and are referred to as an unpleasant emotional state associated with perceptions of situational threat. The empirical studies in this dissertation considered primarily psychometric, methodological and conceptual issues of relevance for the study of anxiety and sports performance. In Study I, athletes were followed across a full competitive season to explore patterns of inter- and intra-individual variability of anxiety and self-confidence in relation to performance. The findings imply intra-individual anxiety and self-confidence variability to affect performance differently than the specific intensity level and are discussed in relation to more stable personality dispositions such as private self-consciousness. Study II evaluated the psychometric properties of the 27-item Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and alternative versions of this scale. General support for a 17-item version (CSAI-2R) was found, but there are also psychometric limitations future research needs to resolve. Study III investigated assessment of intensity and directional ratings on single anxiety items with reference to the conceptualisation of anxiety symptoms as interpreted on a debilitative-facilitative continuum. The findings question the importance and rationale of assessing anxiety direction and revealed serious concerns with assessment procedures and statistical techniques applied in previous research. These concerns were also supported in Study IV, which explored athletes’ idiosyncratic experiences of debilitative and facilitative anxiety symptoms in terms of intensity and emotional valence. The findings are discussed and summarised in a model in order to increase conceptual clarity and provide implications for future research regarding anxiety and related emotional performance states.</p>

Elevated levels of anxiety are a common response to stressful competitive sports situations, are known to moderate athletic performance and are referred to as an unpleasant emotional state associated with perceptions of situational threat. The empirical studies in this dissertation considered primarily psychometric, methodological and conceptual issues of relevance for the study of anxiety and sports performance. In Study I, athletes were followed across a full competitive season to explore patterns of inter- and intra-individual variability of anxiety and self-confidence in relation to performance. The findings imply intra-individual anxiety and self-confidence variability to affect performance differently than the specific intensity level and are discussed in relation to more stable personality dispositions such as private self-consciousness. Study II evaluated the psychometric properties of the 27-item Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and alternative versions of this scale. General support for a 17-item version (CSAI-2R) was found, but there are also psychometric limitations future research needs to resolve. Study III investigated assessment of intensity and directional ratings on single anxiety items with reference to the conceptualisation of anxiety symptoms as interpreted on a debilitative-facilitative continuum. The findings question the importance and rationale of assessing anxiety direction and revealed serious concerns with assessment procedures and statistical techniques applied in previous research. These concerns were also supported in Study IV, which explored athletes’ idiosyncratic experiences of debilitative and facilitative anxiety symptoms in terms of intensity and emotional valence. The findings are discussed and summarised in a model in order to increase conceptual clarity and provide implications for future research regarding anxiety and related emotional performance states.

Sammanfattning Syftet med studien var att skapa en deskriptiv bild över de tre utvalda sårbarhetsfaktorer (tävlingsoro, sömnsvårigheter och fysiska skador) samt undersöka eventuella samband och skillnader mellan dessa gällande elever som läser specialidrott på Riksidrottsgymnasium (RIG). Studiens frågeställningar var: 1) Vilken fysisk skadefrekvens (överbelastning respektive traumatisk skada) har RIG-elever haft under det senaste året? 2) I vilken grad upplever RIG-elever tävlingsoro inför och under tävling/match? 3) I vilken grad upplever RIG-elever sömnsvårigheter? 4) Vilka samband eller skillnader finns mellan de tre valda sårbarhetsfaktorerna? 5) Vilka skillnader i skadefrekvens, skadetyp, sömnsvårigheter och tävlingsoro finns mellan årskurserna? Metod Elektronisk enkätundersökning användes som verktyg för mätbara data genom slutna enkätfrågor. De formulär som använts för den elektroniska enkätundersökningen var CSAI-2 (tävlingsoro), ISI (Sömnsvårigheter) samt fysisk skadefrånvaro enligt definition av Tranæus (2013). Inbjudan till att delta i studien skickades ut till samtliga RIG i Sverige, totalt 40 skolor. Av dessa tackade 18 skolor ja till deltagande, 8 tackade nej och 14 svarade inte på inbjudan. Av den totala populationen deltog 336 riksidrottsgymnasieelever från 24 olika idrotter. Svaren från enkäten presenteras dels i deskriptiv kvantitativ karaktär och dels i en analytisk del. Resultat Inom populationen hade 70 procent varit frånvarande på grund av fysiska skador under året (48 procent på grund av en överbelastnings- och 22 procent på grund av en traumatisk skada), varav 41 procent var frånvarande från träning, tävling eller match längre än en vecka.  Markanta sömnbesvär rapporterades hos 15 procent av eleverna. På CSAI-2 skalan hade självförtroende ett medelvärde på 22,3 ± 5,9 poäng, somatisk oro 18,6 ± 5,6 poäng, kognitiv oro 17,6 ± 4,8 poäng. Statistiska analysen visade signifikanta samband mellan skadefrånvaro, ISI och CSAI-2, förutom mellan somatisk oro och skadefrånvaro. Inga signifikanta skillnader i någon aspekt fanns mellan årskurserna. Slutsats Studiens slutsats är att fysiska skador har ett samband med sömnstörningar och att tävlingsoro korrelerar med både fysiska skador och sömnen negativt. Resultatet kan hjälpa lärare och tränare att få förståelse för dessa faktorer kan behöva uppmärksammas i starten av unga elitidrottares uppväxt. / Abstract The aim of this study was to get a descriptive view of the area and to investigate possible relationships/differences between the three selected vulnerability factors for students who study sports at a Riksidrottsgymnasium (RIG). The study aimed to answer the following questions: 1) To what physical injury rate (overload or traumatic injury) have RIG students had in the past year? 2) To what extent do RIG students experience anxiety before and during competition / match? 3) To what extent do RIG students experience sleep difficulties? 4) What are the relationships or differences between the three selected vulnerabilities? 5) What differences in rate of injury, type of injury, insomnia and anxiety are between grades? Method Electronic survey was used as a tool for measurable data through closed questionnaires. The form that the study used for the electronic survey was CSAI-2 (Anxiety), ISI (Injury) and physical injury severity according to the same definition as Tranæus (2013). The invitation to participate in the study was sent to all RIGs in Sweden, a total of 40 schools. Out of these 40 schools 18 schools accepted to participate in the study, 8 schools voted to not participate and 14 did not respond. Of the total population, 336 high school athletics students participated in 24 different sports. The answers from the questionnaire are presented in a descriptive quantitative character and an analytical part. Results In the population, 70 percent were absent due to physical injuries, of which 41 percent were absent from training, competition or match longer than one week. 48 percent of all students had an overload injury and 22 percent traumatic injury in the past year. 15 percent showed significant sleep disorders. Self-confidence had an average of 22.3 ± 5.9 points, somatic concern, 18.6 ± 5.6 points, cognitive concern, 17.6 ± 4.8 points. Statistical analysis showed significant results between injury absence, ISI and CSAI-2 aside from somatic concern and injuries. Regarding differences between grades, the results showed no diferences in any aspects. Conclusion The conclusion of this study is that physical injuries are associated with sleep disorders and that anxiety is correlated negatively with both physical injuries and sleep. The result can help teachers and coaches to understand these factors may need to be noted at the start of young elite athletes.