Author(s) :

Dhanvi Sheth.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Sports competitive anxiety impairs athletic performance and serves as a psychological barrier to athletic recovery. Besides somatic and cognitive variation, competitive anxiety can also be differentiated by its state or trait quality. There is a significant lack of studies on competitive anxiety in student athletes in high school settings, especially when differentiating between the two types of anxiety. This was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted at Deep Creek High School. The study protocol was approved by local IRB, and no identifying information was collected from participants. The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) questionnaire, measuring trait anxiety, and Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2R) questionnaire, measuring state anxiety, were administered to a small convenience sample from Deep Creek High School, consisting of members of the school’s swimming team (athletes) and non-athletic students. A total of 15 athletes and 6 non-athletes completed the SAS-2 and the CSAI- 2R questionnaires. Athletes completed the CSAI-2R on a competition day and the SAS-2 on any day between two competitions. Non-athletes completed both questionnaires on an ordinary day. A t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were conducted to analyze questionnaire scores and swimmers demonstrated higher overall SAS-2 subscale scores and higher CSAI-2R scores in two subscales compared to nonathletes. Elevated components of both trait and state anxiety in swimmers support the potential presence of competitive anxiety among high school athletes. The study is limited due to its cross-sectional design, limited sample size, and self-reporting questionnaires. However, preliminary understanding of sports anxiety in high school athletes and distinctions between trait and state anxiety is essential for future research that can support targeted interventions that promote both athletic performance and psychological well-being.