Arousal & Anxiety in Sport October 1, 2002

Arousal & Anxiety Popular topic in sport research Popular topic in sport research Early topic to be researched Early topic to be researched

Arousal Definition Physiological activation Physiological activation Autonomic reactivity Autonomic reactivity Fight or flight response Fight or flight response Physiological measures? Physiological measures?

Physiology of Arousal Arousal levels directly related to autonomic nervous system (HR, BP, skin conductivity, and respiration) Arousal levels directly related to autonomic nervous system (HR, BP, skin conductivity, and respiration) Two divisions: Sympathetic &Parasympathetic Two divisions: Sympathetic &Parasympathetic

Sympathetic Nervous System Primarily responsible for body changes with arousal levels Primarily responsible for body changes with arousal levels Sweating hands, increased HR, increased respiration, release of glucose, catecholamine release Sweating hands, increased HR, increased respiration, release of glucose, catecholamine release Works relatively quickly, while parasympathetic n.s. works relatively slowly Works relatively quickly, while parasympathetic n.s. works relatively slowly

Brain Mechanisms Activiation of higher order systems (CNS structures) occurs during arousal Activiation of higher order systems (CNS structures) occurs during arousal Cerebral Cortex - conscious thought processes; desynchronized, fast, low amplitude EEG readings Cerebral Cortex - conscious thought processes; desynchronized, fast, low amplitude EEG readings Hypothalamus - midbrain; electrical stimulation can increase alertness/excitement Hypothalamus - midbrain; electrical stimulation can increase alertness/excitement

Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS) Closely associated with onset of arousal Closely associated with onset of arousal Organizes sensorimotor behavior Organizes sensorimotor behavior Ascending axons of ARAS stimulate higher brain center neurons Ascending axons of ARAS stimulate higher brain center neurons Stimulation results in “awakened” EEG waves; lesions result in somnolence Stimulation results in “awakened” EEG waves; lesions result in somnolence Activiated in perceived threat situations Activiated in perceived threat situations

Measures of Arousal Levels Electrocortical activity Electrocortical activity –Electroencephalogram Biochemical indicators Biochemical indicators –Release of catecholamines Heart Rate Heart Rate –electrocardiograph Muscle Tension Muscle Tension –electromyograph

Measures of Arousal Levels Respiration Rate Respiration Rate –Spirometer Blood Pressure Blood Pressure –Only intermittent recordings available Palmar Sweating Palmar Sweating –Activated by alerting stimuli Galvanic Skin Response Galvanic Skin Response –Increased sweating decreases skin resistance

Anxiety Definitions Trait Anxiety* Trait Anxiety* –General tendency to experience anxiety in many (or most) achievement situations Predisposition to percieve environmental situations as threatening Predisposition to percieve environmental situations as threatening Respond to these situations with increased state anxiety Respond to these situations with increased state anxiety

Anxiety Definitions Five factors related to increases in state anxiety (Endler, 1978) Five factors related to increases in state anxiety (Endler, 1978) State Anxiety State Anxiety –Immediate feelings of anxiety; situation specific Cognitive Vs. Somatic Cognitive Vs. Somatic

Somatic Anxiety Physiological activation Physiological activation Perception of physiological symptoms of increased anxiety Perception of physiological symptoms of increased anxiety Closely related to arousal levels Closely related to arousal levels

Cognitive Anxiety Emotional/cognitive dimension of anxiety Emotional/cognitive dimension of anxiety Our typical understanding of anxiety Our typical understanding of anxiety Perception of threat Perception of threat Possible sources of threat (sport)?? Possible sources of threat (sport)??

Stress Vs. Anxiety Often linked to anxiety Often linked to anxiety Stress is “nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it” (Selye, 1983, p. 2 ) Stress is “nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it” (Selye, 1983, p. 2 ) Eustress vs. distress Eustress vs. distress Hypostress vs. hyperstress Hypostress vs. hyperstress Considered necessary Considered necessary

Measuring Anxiety Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) Before I compete, I feel uneasy Before I compete, I feel uneasy Before I compete, I get a queasy feeling in my stomach Before I compete, I get a queasy feeling in my stomach 1 = hardly ever, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often 1 = hardly ever, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often Doesn’t separate cognitive/somatic anxiety Doesn’t separate cognitive/somatic anxiety

Measuring Anxiety Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI- 2) Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI- 2) Measures multidimensional nature of competitive sport anxiety (C, S, S-C) Measures multidimensional nature of competitive sport anxiety (C, S, S-C) C - I am concerned about this competition C - I am concerned about this competition S - I feel jittery S - I feel jittery S-C - I feel self-confident S-C - I feel self-confident “Not at all” to “very much so” “Not at all” to “very much so”

Causes of Competitive Anxiety Lazarus model of emotion used to explain potential causes for competitive anxiety Lazarus model of emotion used to explain potential causes for competitive anxiety Primary appraisal - degree of personal significance Primary appraisal - degree of personal significance –challenge –threat –personal loss

Personal Antecedents of Competitive Anxiety How an individual views a given competitive situation How an individual views a given competitive situation Anxiety research has identified five important personal factors: Anxiety research has identified five important personal factors: –trait anxiety –self-confidence/self-efficacy –goals –age/experience/skill level –gender

Situational Antecedents of Competitive Anxiety Elements within competitive situation may be anxiety-provoking Elements within competitive situation may be anxiety-provoking May facilitate or threaten personal well-being (Examples?) May facilitate or threaten personal well-being (Examples?) Temporal patterning & sport type Temporal patterning & sport type

Temporal Patterning Measure state anxiety leading up to competition several times Measure state anxiety leading up to competition several times Cognitive anxiety remains constant before/during competition unless expectations change Cognitive anxiety remains constant before/during competition unless expectations change Somatic increase leading up to competition, then declining and stabilizing Somatic increase leading up to competition, then declining and stabilizing

Importance of Sport Type Individual vs. Team sports (who has higher anxiety?) Individual vs. Team sports (who has higher anxiety?) Subjective vs. Objective Subjective vs. Objective Contact vs. Non-Contact Contact vs. Non-Contact