Comparison of Sport Competitive Anxiety Levels of Saudi Arabian National Team Athletes with and without Disabilities in Competitions

Author

Hassan Ahmad Halawani, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow

Date of Graduation

5-2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Lirgg, Cathy D.

Committee Member

Gorman, Dean R.

Second Committee Member

Hunt, Sharon B.

Third Committee Member

Gartin, Barbara C.

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences; Education; Social sciences; Athletes; Competitive anxiety; Disabilities; Saudi Arabia; Sport

Abstract

Anxiety in sport is complex and can lead to a number of undesirable consequences such as burnout, performance difficulties, interpersonal problems, and injury. The purpose of this study was to compare whether significant differences existed in the levels of somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption between individuals of the Saudi Arabian national team with and without disabilities in competitions. In addition, differences in somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption were examined between athletes in an individual or team sport. The Sport Anxiety Sale (SAS-2, Smith et. al, 2006) was employed to measure the subscales of somatic anxiety, worry, and consternation disruption.

Participants were 120 Saudi Arabian national team athletes with and without disabilities who participated in competitions during the 2010 competitive season. Sixty Saudi Arabian national team athletes with disabilities from four different sports (track and field, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and volleyball) were surveyed. Another 60 Saudi Arabian national team athletes without disabilities who competed in the same four sports were also surveyed. Athletes' ages ranged from 18-35 years. Furthermore, athletes varied in their level of competitive experience.

Results of the multivariate analysis indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between athletes with and without disabilities or between individual and team sport participants in their levels of somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption.

Citation

Halawani, H. A. (2012). Comparison of Sport Competitive Anxiety Levels of Saudi Arabian National Team Athletes with and without Disabilities in Competitions. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/264