STUDY ON THE LINK BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND TEAM IDENTITY AS MAJOR FACTORS IN TACKLING COMPETITIVE ANXIETY IN PERFORMANCE ATHLETES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.69(1).05

Keywords:

competitive state anxiety, mindfulness, state of flow

Abstract

Sports competition and athletic performance are of major interest in sports psychology. Throughout the history of sports, researchers have sought to identify the modifiable factors that could help those who take part in competition to adapt to it as best as possible. In this study, we will focus on identifying certain psychological factors described in the specialized literature as having a consistent link to decreasing competitive anxiety, while looking for implementable techniques to improve these factors. The aim of this study was to identify effective methods for decreasing competitive anxiety, reaching a state of flow and influencing the dimensions of mindfulness (awareness, refocus, non-judgment). The study included a total number of 27 female subjects and was conducted over a period of 4 months (21.07.2022-21.11.2022). In the study, the subjects were divided into two groups: one working group where the intervention took place and in which 15 female footballers from League 1 were randomly assigned, and one control group with 12 female footballers. The two groups underwent an evaluation aimed at identifying the achievement of the state of flow and the reduction of competitive anxiety after a few mental and physical relaxation exercises. The results of the statistical processing of data show some differences between the two groups in terms of score for the tracked parameters, but also between the results of each group in the pre- and post-tests. However, statistically significant differences between the two groups were obtained only for the state of flow and somatic anxiety. The state of flow, of mental wellbeing, should be considered before, during and after each sports competition, regardless of its level, in order to achieve a satisfactory performance in the world of sports, correlated with the expectations and the training of each athlete.

Studiu privind legătura dintre stima de sine și identitatea de echipă, ca factori importanți în combaterea anxietății competiționale la sportivii de performanță. Competiția sportivă și performanțele unui sportiv constituie un interes major în psihologia sportului. De-a lungul istoriei sportului, cercetătorii au căutat să identifice acei factori modificabili care să îi ajute pe cei care fac parte din competiție să se adapteze cât mai bine la aceasta. În acest studiu vom vorbi despre identificarea anumitor factori psihologici, descriși în literatura de specialitate ca având o legătură consistentă cu scăderea anxietății competiționale și, de asemenea, își mai propune căutarea unor tehnici implementabile de îmbunătățire a acestor factori. Scopul acestui studiu a fost identificarea unor metode eficiente pentru reducerea anxietății competiționale, dobândirea stării de flow și influențarea dimensiunilor de mindfulness (conștientizare, refocalizare, non-judecare). Studiul a inclus un număr total de 27 subiecți de gen feminin și s-a desfășurat pe o perioadă de 4 luni (21.07.2022-21.11.2022). În cadrul studiului, subiecții au fost împărțiți în două loturi: un grup de lucru în care s-a practicat intervenția unde au fost alocate randomizat 15 jucătoare de fotbal feminine din Liga 1 si un grup de control cu 12 jucătoare. Cele 2 grupuri au fost supuse unei evaluări menite să identifice dobândirea stării de flow și reducerea anxietății competiționale post-exerciții de relaxare fizică și mentală. Rezultatele obținute în urma prelucrării statistice a datelor arată existența unor diferențe între scorurile obținute de cele două grupuri în cazul parametrilor urmăriți dar și între rezultatele obținute la pre și respectiv post testare de fiecare dintre grupuri. Cu toate acestea, diferențe semnificative statistic între cele două grupuri, au fost obținute doar în cazul stării de flow și a anxietății somatice. Pentru obținerea unei performanțe satisfăcătoare în lumea sportului, conformă cu așteptările și pregătirea realizată de către fiecare atlet, starea de flow, de bine mental trebuie luată în considerare înainte, în timpul și după fiecare competiție sportivă, indiferent de nivelul acesteia.

Cuvinte-cheie: anxietate de stare competițională, mindfulness, stare de flow

Received 2024 March 20; Revised 2024 March 27; Accepted 2024 March 28;

Available online 2024 May 10; Available print 2024 June 30

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Published

2024-05-10

How to Cite

DATCU, F. R. ., PETRACOVSCHI, S. A. ., BOTA, E. ., & DOMOKOS, M. P. . (2024). STUDY ON THE LINK BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND TEAM IDENTITY AS MAJOR FACTORS IN TACKLING COMPETITIVE ANXIETY IN PERFORMANCE ATHLETES. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Educatio Artis Gymnasticae, 69(1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.69(1).05

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