Stress appraisals, coping, and coping effectiveness among international cross‐country runners during training and competition

Abstract

The aims of this study were to explore: (a) stressors (including intensity of the feelings that the appraisal of each stressor generated and control of the stressor) and coping strategies on training and competition days; (b) the relationship between stressor intensity and stressor control; (c) the relationship between stressor intensity and stressor control with coping effectiveness; and (d) the relationship between coping effectiveness and coping automaticity. Participants were 10 elite Caucasian cross-country athletes who maintained a stressor and coping diary for 6 weeks. Results revealed that the runners experienced diverse stressors and used different coping strategies on training and competition days. Stressors were significantly more intense on competition days. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between stressor intensity and stressor control, and a negative correlation between stressor intensity and coping effectiveness. These results support the notion that stressors and coping are situation-specific variables. Applied practitioners could thus devise situation-specific coping interventions to maximize coping effectiveness.

Stress, coping, coping effectiveness and emotions in Malaysian Elite tenpin bowlers: Role of context and importance

“…However, the tenpin bowlers experienced a greater frequency of stressors during COMP compared to the PRE phase. This is in contrast to a study on cross-country runners who experienced more stressors during training than competition (Nicholls, Levy et al, 2009). This might be due to changes in lane conditions (e.g.…”

“…The overall use of PFC, EFC and AVC by the tenpin bowlers was almost identical to a study on cross-country runners which assessed coping during training and competition (Nicholls, Levy et al, 2009). The main difference between the two studies was during the MAJ competition in which the tenpin bowlers used more AVC and less PFC when compared to the runners.…”

“…Nicholls et al, 2005;Nicholls, Levy, et al, 2009). Overall, tenpin bowlers used more EFC in the PRE phase prior to the MIN competition and less EFC prior to the MAJ competitions.…”

“…Rugby athletes seem to be particularly worried about sustaining injuries (Nicholls, Holt, Polman, & Bloomfield, 2006), whereas golfers are concerned about changing weather conditions (Nicholls, Holt, Polman, & James, 2005). Also, more stressors are experienced during training than in competition but during the later athletes experience higher levels of stress (Nicholls, Levy et al 2009). However, few studies have examined whether competitions of different importance generate different stressors and the coping responses to these stressor.…”

“…Coping with stress during both competition and training (Nicholls, Levy, Grice, & Polman, 2009) is one such psychological factor (Polman, 2012). For example, the use of maladaptive coping strategies has been shown to be associated with decreased performance (Haney & Long, 1995) and performance satisfaction (Nicholls, Polman, & Levy, 2012) in athletes.…”