How anxiety is influenced by the type of sport practiced

Whiteley, G. E. (2013). How trait and state anxiety influence athletic performance. (Doctoral dissertation). Department of Psychology, Ohio, Wittenberg University.

Some research has suggested that participants in team sports are more anxious, dependent, and extraverted than individual sport athletes (Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990). Additionally, individual athletes have been identified as less alert and more sensitive and creative than team sport participants (Cox, 2007). Conversely, Nicholls, Polman, and Levy (2010) examined several athletes of varying experience levels that participated in an assortment of different sports and found that individual athletes displayed lower self-confidence and higher somatic anxiety levels than team athletes.
Often, sports such as track, golf, and swimming are perceived as individual sports, while sports such as soccer, football, and basketball are viewed as team sports. However, research has been largely unsuccessful in providing an accurate definition of how the distinction is made between individual and team sport participants. For example, a track athlete could be concerned about performing well because his/her score affects the team, rather than wanting to improve his/her own personal statistics. Similarly, a soccer player could desire to perform well to impress friends, parents, or coaches, rather than contribute to a team effort. Essentially, an athlete’s team orientation is dependent on how he/she defines his/her participation in sport.

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