The Effects of Imagery-Manipulated Appraisal on Intensity and Direction of Competitive Anxiety

Abstract

This study attempted to manipulate an athlete’s facilitative or debilitative appraisal (direction; Jones, 1995) of competitive anxiety through imagery-based interventions in order to study the effects on subsequent anxiety intensity (heart rate and CSAI-2) and direction (CSAI-2D; Jones & Swain, 1992). In a within-subjects’ design, 24 experienced soccer players were relaxed via progressive relaxation audiotape and then randomly underwent an imagery-based video- and audiotaped manipulation of their appraisal of taking a hypothetical gamewinning penalty kick under either a “pressure” or “challenge” appraisal emphasis. There was no significant effect for heart rate. A repeated measures MANOVA for CSAI-2 and CSAI-2D scores revealed that for both intensity and direction scores the challenge condition produced less cognitive anxiety, less somatic anxiety, and more self-confidence (all p < .001) than the pressure situation. This finding suggests that a challenge appraisal manipulation taught by applied sport psychologists might benefit athletes’ performance.

The Use of Imagery to Manipulate Challenge and Threat Appraisal States in Athletes

“…Consistent with Hale and Whitehouse (1998), a greater intensity of cognitive anxiety was experienced during the threat script compared with the challenge script. It is suggested that a greater cognitive intensity was experienced during the threat scenario due to the script containing more thoughts of concern and worry (e.g., ".…”

“…As expected, anxiety symptoms were perceived as more facilitative to the upcoming performance during this scenario. The absence of imaged physical activity more conclusively supports Hale and Whitehouse's (1998) findings that a challenge-or threat-appraised state will elicit increased HR (Jones et al, 2009). Increased HR during the scenarios describing elevated physiological responses supports Lang's (1979) assumption that responses will reflect the actual situation.…”

“…By including a more in-depth assessment of cardiovascular responses to different imagery scenarios (HR, SV, and calculation of CO) than previously done (Cumming et al, 2007;Hale & Whitehouse, 1998), a second aim was to examine whether psychological and cardiovascular responses and their interpretations vary according to the cognitive appraisal of three imagery scripts.…”

“…Jones, Mace, Bray, MacRae, and Stockbridge (2002) found that imagery, with an emphasis on remaining in control of emotions and feeling confident and focused, led to lower perceived stress and higher levels of self-efficacy during a climbing task. Specifically using imagery to manipulate cognitive appraisals, Hale and Whitehouse (1998) instructed participants to observe a video and then image themselves experiencing the same scenario of taking a soccer penalty kick. The observed video was identical in both instances apart from the accompanying caption "pressure situation" or "challenge situation."…”

Psychological Skills Training Applied to Soccer: A Systematic Review Based on Research Methodologies

“…2004 -2007 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20, 25 7 (25) • 2008 -2012 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 16 (57. Studies' reference numbers: 1 (Blair, Hall, & Leyshon, 1993); 2 (Brobst & Ward, 2002); 3 (Burton, Gillham, & Glenn, 2011); 4 (Edvardsson, Ivarsson, & Johnson, 2012); 5 (Gucciardi, Gordon, & Dimmock, 2009a); 6 (Gucciardi, Gordon, & Dimmock, 2009b); 7 (Hale & Whitehouse, 1998);8 (Hashim & Yusof, 2011);9 (Johnson, Hrycaiko, Johnson, & Halas, 2004);10 (Jordet, 2005); 11 (Kerkez, Kulak, & Aktas, 2012); 12 ( Maitland & Grevis, 2010 (Sadeghi, Omar-Fauzee, Jamalis, Ab-Latif, & Cheric, 2010); 23 (Salmon, Hall, & Haslam, 1994); 24 (Seif-Barghi, Kordi, Memari, Ali-Mansournia, & Jalali-Ghomi, 2012); 25 (Thelwell, Greenlees, & Weston, 2006); 26 (Thelwell, Greenlees, & Weston, 2010); 27 (Veraksa & Gorovaya, 2012); 28 (Voight & Callaghan, 2001) www.ccsenet.org/res Vol. 5, No.…”