RELATIONSHIP OF INTENSITY AND DIRECTION OF COMPETITIVE TRAIT ANXIETY TO SKILL LEVEL AND GENDER IN TENNIS

The purpose of this study was to examine the intensity of competitive trait anxiety and self-confidence and interpret whether these symptoms facilitated or debilitated performance in three distinct skill-level groups in tennis for both males and females. Advanced (n = 50), interm ediate (n = 96), and novice (n = 79) tennis players completed a modifi ed Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2. The three groups did not dif fer for somatic anxiety intensity, but the novice group reported less cognitive anxiety intensity and the advanced group higher self-confide nce levels. Only advanced players reported more facilitative interpret ations versus the hypothesized progressive increase across skill level . Males and females did not differ on self-confidence and anxiety inte nsity, but males reported a more facilitative interpretation of anxiet y. Analyses of subjects who reported debilitating effects for cognitiv e and somatic anxiety revealed higher intensities on both anxiety subs cales and lower self-confidence levels. The discussion addresses impli cations for the practitioner.