COPING EFFECTIVENESS - A PATH-ANALYSIS OF SELF-EFFICACY, CONTROL, COPING, AND PERFORMANCE IN SPORT COMPETITIONS

We examined a model of coping effectiveness based on Lazarus and Folkm an's (1984) stress and coping theory and Bandura's (1986) social cogni tive theory. Female athletes (n = 178) aged 16 to 28 were studied over two rounds of a sport event. Path analysis (LISREL VI) revealed that higher levels of self-efficacy and control appraisals were associated with better performance. As expected, performance and performance sati sfaction in Round 1 influenced appraisals and coping during the second performance. In addition, control appraisal was associated with disen gagement coping, and both engagement and disengagement coping were rel ated to performance and performance satisfaction. Self-efficacy mediat ed the performance/control relationship for Round 1, but not the perfo rmance satisfaction relationship.