The relationship between competitive anxiety and self-presentational concerns

Citation

Wilson P & Eklund R (1998) The relationship between competitive anxiety and self-presentational concerns. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20 (1), pp. 81-97. http://journals.humankinetics.com/jsep-back-issues/JSEPVolume20Issue1March/TheRelationshipBetweenCompetitiveAnxietyandSelfPresentationalConcerns

Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to examine Leary`s (1992) contention that competitive anxiety revolves around the self-presentational implications of sport competition. Intercollegiate athletes (N = 199) completed inventories assessing competitive trait anxiety and self-presentational concerns. Principal-axis factor analysis with direct oblim rotation of self-presentational concern items produced an interpretable four-factor solution accounting for 62% of the variance. These factors were interpreted to represent self-presentational concerns about Performance/Composure Inadequacies, Appearing Fatigued/Lacking Energy, Physical Appearance, and Appearing Athletically Untalented. Correlational and structural equation modeling analyses revealed that self-presentational concern was more strongly associated with cognitive rather than somatic anxiety, and that substantial portions of variance in competitive anxiety could be accounted for by self-presentational concern variables. The results of this investigation provide support for Leary's (1992) assertion regarding the relationship between self-presentational concern and competitive anxiety. Key words: cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety.

Journal
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Volume 20, Issue 1