PERSONALITY-VARIABLES AS ANTECEDENTS OF PRECOMPETITIVE MOOD STATE TEMPORAL PATTERNING

Utilizing Marten's Competitive Process Model (1977) as a unifying fram ework, the present investigation examined personality mediators of pre competitive mood state temporal patterning among Competitive rifle sho oters (n = 106). Personality variables included trait-sport confidence , optimism, hardiness, neuroticism and self-handicapping. Precompetiti ve mood was assessed using an abbreviated version of the Profile of Mo od States. Each shooter completed the mood scale 48 hours, 24 hours, 1 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to a national championship. One-way MANOV As and follow-up ANOVAs were conducted to determine if the personality variables exerted an influence on the magnitude or pattern mood state responses. Variables that showed a significant relationship to precom petitive mood were then entered into regression analyses to determine their combined impact in predicting the mood states. Results revealed that personality was not related to precompetitive mood state pattern, but the magnitude of various moods was influenced by trait-sport conf idence, neuroticism, the control and commitment components of hardines s, and self-handicapping. When examined together, these variables acco unted for between 21 and 39 percent of the variance (M = 30%) for 5 ou t of the 8 mood state subscales. It was concluded that a combination o f sport-specific and general personality dispositions which are ground ed in emotionality can explain a significant portion of the variance i n precompetitive mood states.