Fear of failure and anxiety in sport

Abstract

Sport represents an important achievement domain, where fear of failure and anxiety are permanently present. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between fear of failure and anxiety in sport contexts. A total of 405 athletes completed the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory and the Sport Anxiety Scale-2. In this study, a structural equation modelling was used to test this relationship. The results gathered, provided evidence that fear of failure construct has a direct and positive influence on sport anxiety. Furthermore, and consistent with previous studies, a relationship between fear of failure and anxiety was found, indicating that athletes with higher levels of fear of failure displayed a tendency of having greater anxiety levels. These findings highlights the importance of fear of failure in sport contexts, especially as a predictor of sport anxiety in athletes.

Change in basic need frustration in relation to perfectionism, anxiety, and performance in elite junior performers

“…As a paradox, research based on the SDT framework has highlighted that when less self‐determined, the ability to negotiate stress and adversity to engage in resilience and restoration processes are hampered . Altogether, the above factors seem to trap the vulnerable and exposed elite junior performers, which experience moderate and increasing frustration of autonomy and competence, into a maladaptive motivational process . Instead of reaching perfection and enhance their performances, maladaptive patterns of cognition (ie, harsh self‐critique, inferiority, shame, and fear of failure) seem to be nurtured, thereby bringing about diminished growth, increased levels of anxiety, and non‐optimal performance development …”

“…Specifically, anxiety is a stress-related phenomena that reflects a perceived imbalance between requests and competence, likely to be aroused in stressful and pressurized TDEs. 36,37 Anxiety comprises somatic dimensions (ie, increased heart rate, muscle tensions) and cognitive dimensions (ie, worry, catastrophizing, and negative self-talk). 29,[37][38][39] The latter, linked to both EC 24,38 and basic need frustration, 7 has been found to most strongly influence elite performers, unanimously interpreted as debilitative to performance development.…”

“…29,[37][38][39] The latter, linked to both EC 24,38 and basic need frustration, 7 has been found to most strongly influence elite performers, unanimously interpreted as debilitative to performance development. 36,40 Perceived performance level reflects the performers' overall subjective judgments of their normative performance level relative to their age-group. 41 The distinct ways performers perceived their performance status and outlooks are likely to affect their psychological adjustment (ie, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses) when faced with exposed situations.…”

“…Two relevant outcomes of the maladaptive motivational process, at odds with the ultimate goal of reaching the top, are (higher) anxiety and (lower) perceived performance. Specifically, anxiety is a stress‐related phenomena that reflects a perceived imbalance between requests and competence, likely to be aroused in stressful and pressurized TDEs . Anxiety comprises somatic dimensions (ie, increased heart rate, muscle tensions) and cognitive dimensions (ie, worry, catastrophizing, and negative self‐talk) .…”

“…Anxiety comprises somatic dimensions (ie, increased heart rate, muscle tensions) and cognitive dimensions (ie, worry, catastrophizing, and negative self‐talk) . The latter, linked to both EC and basic need frustration, has been found to most strongly influence elite performers, unanimously interpreted as debilitative to performance development …”