Social support dimensions and components of performance in tennis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between dimensions of social support and components of performance in tennis. A post-match performance measure was completed by 144 British tournament tennis players. Principal components analysis yielded eight components, labelled Execution of (Flexible) Plan, Loss of Composure, Feeling Flat, Positive Tension, Worry, Flow, EV ective Tactics and Double Faults. Before the match, 46 players had also completed the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. Stepwise regression analyses revealed signiWcant eVects of the Belonging and Appraisal dimensions of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List on Wve of the performance components. The correlations between total support and four of these performance components were also signiWcant. Logistic regression analyses revealed no signiWcant eVects of the dimensions of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List or Total Support upon winning versus losing. EVects of social support upon performance were therefore only apparent when attention was focused on the components of performance.

Stressors, social support, and effects upon performance in golf

“…These main effects ranged from 10% to 24% (medium to large effect sizes, cf. Cohen, 1992) for effects on performance, compared with values of 3% to 10% in the Rees and Hardy (2004) study and 12% to 21% in the Rees et al (1999) study. These effect sizes are greater than the fairly modest effect sizes observed in two recent meta-analyses of the relationships of anxiety and self-confidence with performance (Craft, Magyar, Becker, & Feltz, 2003;Woodman & Hardy, 2003).…”

“…A few researchers have noted social support as an important resource within a performance context (e.g. Gould, Guinan, Greenleaf, Medbery, & Peterson, 1999;Holt & Hogg, 2002;, and recently some (Rees & Hardy, 2004;Rees, Ingledew, & Hardy, 1999) have used process-related performance measures. Using a high-level (regional to international standard) sample of tennis players, Rees and Hardy (2004) found evidence for main effects of social support and interactive effects of social support and stressors upon processes underlying performance.…”

“…For example, social support could influence performance by providing advice about tactics and game plans, or by increasing positive affect, leading to a greater likelihood of experiencing flow states (cf. Cohen, 1988;Rees et al, 1999). The normal procedure for testing stress-buffering effects is moderated hierarchical regression analysis (Cohen & Wills, 1985).…”

The PASS-Q: The Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire

“…A number of the perceived available support measures used in sport psychology research were originally developed to assess support in general social psychology. Concerns have been raised regarding the content validity of such measures in sport because they assess general everyday support issues and do not account for the support issues that might be of speci c relevance to high level sportspeople (Rees et al, 1999). Rees and Hardy (2000) found that, in addition to support with everyday issues, athletes required unique forms of support to help with sport-speci c demands, such as selection issues, tness concerns, and problems in training and competition.…”

“…In sport, perceived available support has been associated with bene cial effects on self-con dence (Rees & Freeman, 2007), processes underpinning performance (Rees, Ingledew, & Hardy, 1999), performance outcome (Freeman & Rees, 2009), and vulnerability to injury (Smith, Smoll, & Ptacek, 1990). A number of the perceived available support measures used in sport psychology research were originally developed to assess support in general social psychology.…”