Arousal & Anxiety in SportArousal & Anxiety in Sport

October 1, 2002October 1, 2002

Arousal & AnxietyArousal & Anxiety

Popular topic in sport researchPopular topic in sport research Early topic to be researchedEarly topic to be researched

Arousal DefinitionArousal Definition

Physiological activationPhysiological activation Autonomic reactivityAutonomic reactivity Fight or flight responseFight or flight response Physiological measures?Physiological measures?

Physiology of ArousalPhysiology of Arousal

Arousal levels directly related to autonomic Arousal levels directly related to autonomic nervous system (HR, BP, skin conductivity, nervous system (HR, BP, skin conductivity, and respiration)and respiration)

Two divisions: Sympathetic Two divisions: Sympathetic &Parasympathetic&Parasympathetic

Sympathetic Nervous SystemSympathetic Nervous System

Primarily responsible for body changes with Primarily responsible for body changes with arousal levelsarousal levels

Sweating hands, increased HR, increased Sweating hands, increased HR, increased respiration, release of glucose, respiration, release of glucose, catecholamine releasecatecholamine release

Works Works relativelyrelatively quickly, while quickly, while parasympathetic n.s. works parasympathetic n.s. works relativelyrelatively slowlyslowly

Brain MechanismsBrain Mechanisms

Activiation of higher order systems (CNS Activiation of higher order systems (CNS structures) occurs during arousalstructures) occurs during arousal

Cerebral Cortex - conscious thought Cerebral Cortex - conscious thought processes; desynchronized, fast, low processes; desynchronized, fast, low amplitude EEG readingsamplitude EEG readings

Hypothalamus - midbrain; electrical Hypothalamus - midbrain; electrical stimulation can increase stimulation can increase alertness/excitementalertness/excitement

Ascending Reticular Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)Activating System (ARAS)

Closely associated with onset of arousalClosely associated with onset of arousal Organizes sensorimotor behaviorOrganizes sensorimotor behavior Ascending axons of ARAS stimulate higher Ascending axons of ARAS stimulate higher

brain center neuronsbrain center neurons Stimulation results in “awakened” EEG Stimulation results in “awakened” EEG

waves; lesions result in somnolencewaves; lesions result in somnolence Activiated in perceived threat situationsActiviated in perceived threat situations

Measures of Arousal LevelsMeasures of Arousal Levels

Electrocortical activityElectrocortical activity– ElectroencephalogramElectroencephalogram

Biochemical indicatorsBiochemical indicators– Release of catecholaminesRelease of catecholamines

Heart RateHeart Rate– electrocardiographelectrocardiograph

Muscle TensionMuscle Tension– electromyographelectromyograph

Measures of Arousal LevelsMeasures of Arousal Levels

Respiration RateRespiration Rate– SpirometerSpirometer

Blood PressureBlood Pressure– Only intermittent recordings availableOnly intermittent recordings available

Palmar SweatingPalmar Sweating– Activated by alerting stimuliActivated by alerting stimuli

Galvanic Skin ResponseGalvanic Skin Response– Increased sweating decreases skin resistanceIncreased sweating decreases skin resistance

Anxiety DefinitionsAnxiety Definitions

Trait Anxiety*Trait Anxiety*– General tendency to experience anxiety in General tendency to experience anxiety in

many (or most) achievement situationsmany (or most) achievement situations Predisposition to percieve environmental Predisposition to percieve environmental

situations as threateningsituations as threatening Respond to these situations with increased Respond to these situations with increased

state anxietystate anxiety

Anxiety DefinitionsAnxiety Definitions

Five factors related to increases in state Five factors related to increases in state anxiety (Endler, 1978)anxiety (Endler, 1978)

State AnxietyState Anxiety– Immediate feelings of anxiety; situation Immediate feelings of anxiety; situation

specificspecific Cognitive Vs. SomaticCognitive Vs. Somatic

Somatic AnxietySomatic Anxiety

Physiological activationPhysiological activation

Perception of physiological symptoms of Perception of physiological symptoms of increased anxietyincreased anxiety

Closely related to arousal levelsClosely related to arousal levels

Cognitive AnxietyCognitive Anxiety

Emotional/cognitive dimension of anxietyEmotional/cognitive dimension of anxiety Our typical understanding of anxietyOur typical understanding of anxiety Perception of threatPerception of threat Possible sources of threat (sport)??Possible sources of threat (sport)??

Stress Vs. AnxietyStress Vs. Anxiety

Often linked to anxietyOften linked to anxiety Stress is “nonspecific response of the body Stress is “nonspecific response of the body

to any demand made upon it” to any demand made upon it” (Selye, 1983, p. (Selye, 1983, p. 2 )2 )

Eustress vs. distressEustress vs. distress Hypostress vs. hyperstressHypostress vs. hyperstress Considered necessaryConsidered necessary

Measuring AnxietyMeasuring Anxiety

Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT)Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) Before I compete, I feel uneasyBefore I compete, I feel uneasy Before I compete, I get a queasy feeling in Before I compete, I get a queasy feeling in

my stomachmy stomach 1 = hardly ever, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often1 = hardly ever, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often Doesn’t separate cognitive/somatic anxietyDoesn’t separate cognitive/somatic anxiety

Measuring AnxietyMeasuring Anxiety

Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2)2)

Measures multidimensional nature of Measures multidimensional nature of competitive sport anxiety (C, S, S-C)competitive sport anxiety (C, S, S-C)

C - I am concerned about this competitionC - I am concerned about this competition S - I feel jitteryS - I feel jittery S-C - I feel self-confidentS-C - I feel self-confident ““Not at all” to “very much so”Not at all” to “very much so”

Causes of Competitive AnxietyCauses of Competitive Anxiety

Lazarus model of emotion used to explain Lazarus model of emotion used to explain potential causes for competitive anxietypotential causes for competitive anxiety

Primary appraisal - degree of personal Primary appraisal - degree of personal significancesignificance– challenge challenge – threat threat – personal losspersonal loss

Personal Antecedents of Personal Antecedents of Competitive AnxietyCompetitive Anxiety

How an individual views a given competitive How an individual views a given competitive situationsituation

Anxiety research has identified five important Anxiety research has identified five important personal factors:personal factors:– trait anxietytrait anxiety– self-confidence/self-efficacyself-confidence/self-efficacy– goalsgoals– age/experience/skill levelage/experience/skill level– gendergender

Situational Antecedents of Situational Antecedents of Competitive AnxietyCompetitive Anxiety

Elements within competitive situation may Elements within competitive situation may be anxiety-provokingbe anxiety-provoking

May facilitate or threaten personal well-being May facilitate or threaten personal well-being (Examples?)(Examples?)

Temporal patterning & sport typeTemporal patterning & sport type

Temporal PatterningTemporal Patterning

Measure state anxiety leading up to Measure state anxiety leading up to competition several timescompetition several times

Cognitive anxiety remains constant Cognitive anxiety remains constant before/during competition unless expectations before/during competition unless expectations changechange

Somatic increase leading up to competition, Somatic increase leading up to competition, then declining and stabilizingthen declining and stabilizing

Importance of Sport TypeImportance of Sport Type

Individual vs. Team sports (who has higher Individual vs. Team sports (who has higher anxiety?)anxiety?)

Subjective vs. ObjectiveSubjective vs. Objective Contact vs. Non-ContactContact vs. Non-Contact