Effect of Mindfulness Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) to Reduce competitive state anxiety on Karate Athletes

Abstract

Competitive state anxiety influences cognitive, emotional, and athlete behaviour while they have to perform perfectly in a competition. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of Mindfulness Sports Performance Enhancement (MSPE) training on competitive state anxiety of karate athletes in Surabaya. The research method used is quantitative with an experimental design. The sample in this study was 28 Karate athletes from Dojo Shiroite and INKAI in Surabaya. Those samples were selected using quota sampling. The intervention provided was an MSPE intervention adapted from Mindfulness Sports Performance Enhancement (MSPE). The data collection method was carried out using a competitive state anxiety scale adapted from The Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory – 2 with 17 items. The data were analyzed by paired t-test with SPSS 26. The result showed a significant decrease in the average competitive state anxiety by 9.25 points. This condition is supported by the decrease in cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety dimension by 7.76 and 3.86 points. The decrease was also followed by an increase in the self-confidence dimension by 8.21 points. The findings in this study show the importance of continuous mental mindfulness training to improve athlete performance by overcoming competitive state anxiety. This research can also be a reference for practitioners and researchers. MSPE training can be developed as an effort to improve or solve problems related to an athlete's condition.

Competitive Anxiety and Mindfulness

“…[17] Resulted athlete who sense unable to meet the demand elevated performance on both training or competition, will perceive threat. [13] Threat is a function of uncertainty multiplied by importance if either uncertainty or importance away to exist, there is no threat. [18] Specifically, in sport competition suitation, the competitive anxiety is a sport psychology theoretical widely interested form coach, athlete and reseacher.…”

“…And also confirmed to various of athletes, such as cyclists, darts, hammer throwers, hockey players , hurdles athletics, fighting judo athlete, rugby football player, short/mid-range/long-distance athletics, shooters, volleyball players, swimmers, and karate athletes. [50], [12], [13] As the emphasizing to the related literatures, there are not only supported for mindfulness intervention positive effect that can increase the level of athlete mindfulness, but also can decreased for athlete's stress or anxiety. [14], [15], [45], [51], [52] Both practicing and competition situation of the athletes, the measuring and evaluating of mindfulness can be observed and employed with the following popular and standardly accepted tools, such as the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS) by Lau, Bishop, Segal, Buis, Anderson, Carlson & Cormody (2006).…”

“…[12] Consequence, uncertainty occur from competitive and outcome importance therefore no disturbing the minds of athletes in training or during sports competition and self-confidence has increased. [13] These is accorded to the conceptual of Mindfulness Theory that leads to practice reduce competitive anxiety. However, an applying of the principles of thought and the effect of mindfulness in a sporting situation is not as easy as it seems.…”