How anxiety has an impact on sporting performance

Anxiety is the negative form of stress which can lead to an increase in arousal and and a potential decrease in performance levels. Often performers experience loss of concentration, feelings of apprehension or an inability to cope, attentional narrowing or fear of failure. (these are known as cognitive responses. Performers may also suffer from sweating, increased muscle tension, feeling of nausea, increased heart rate and other psychological reactions (somatic responses).

There are different types of anxiety that will affect a performer in a different way.

Cognitive Anxiety, which involves the performers thoughts and worries concerning their percieved lack of ability to complete the task successfully. The individual will often experience feelings of nervousness and apprehension and will have difficulty concentrating before and during the competition. This type of anxiety is usually experienced prior to the event, even several days beforehand.

Somatic Anxiety, which involves the individuals physiological responses responses when placed in a situation where he or she perceives an inability to complete the task successfully. The performer may experience an increase in heart rate, sweating, blood pressure, muscle tension and feelings of nausea. All of which could hinder their performance initially; however, these symptons often reduce when the event has started.+

When a performer is placed in a stressful situation McGrath '70 suggested that they respond by progressing through four stages.

Stage 1: Environmental Demands- involves the individual having to cope with a psychological or physiological demand.

Stage 2: Perception of the demands- The individual then makes a judgement about the specific requirements of the task and their ability to deal with them,

Stage 3: Stress response- once a judgement of the situation has been made the individual experiences a specific reaction which may be physical (somatic) or psychological (cognitive)

Stage 4: Behaviour- the performer then attempts to execute the skill. The performers behaviour will often reflect on their psychological attitude to the task.

Spielberger '66 found that individuals may react differently according to the situation  and their personality and identified two types of anxiety which may account for these differences:

Trait Anxiety- This disposition is stable and genetically inherited. This performer is more likely to become more anxious in a wide variety of situations and they will experience a higher stae of anxiety compared to those with a low trait anxiety.

State Anxiety- This occurs when the performer is placed in a particular situation. It is linked to the performers mood and can alter from moment to moment. Both cognitive and somatic anxiety may be experienced at this time.