PATH-ANALYSIS EXAMINING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ANTECEDENTS OF ANXIETY, MULTIDIMENSIONAL STATE ANXIETY, AND TRIATHLON PERFORMANCE

The study explored predictive paths for antecedents of anxiety, state anxiety responses, and performance. Male triathletes (N = 175) complet ed a modified Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 which included the original intensity scale and a direction scale of Jones and Swain. Th ey also completed a 23-item Prerace Questionnaire which measured antec edents of anxiety among triathletes. Factor analysis of intercorrelati ons for the Prerace Questionnaire identified six factors similar to th ose found in 1995 by the present authors. Path analysis to predict sta te anxiety from antecedents of anxiety indicated that rated intensity of anxiety was predicted by the perceived difficulty of race goals and by perceived readiness. Direction of anxiety was predicted by coach's influence, recent form, and perceived readiness. Path analysis to pre dict performance from state-anxiety scores and antecedents of anxiety indicated that recent form predicted performance directly without medi ation of anxiety responses. Anxiety scores did not predict performance . The findings support the notion that intensity and direction of anxi ety responses have different antecedents.