SEX, SPORT, SITUATION, AND COMPETITIVE STATE ANXIETY

Within a multivariate design, the relationship between sex, sport, and competitive situation with state anxiety was examined, The Competitiv e State Anxiety Inventory-2 was administered to selected intramural ba sketball and volleyball teams (ns=266 and 226) prior to round-robin an d play-off competition. Multivariate analysis of variance yielded a si gnificant interaction of sport by sex and a significant main effect fo r sport. Follow-up tests indicated that basketball players scored high er somatic and cognitive state anxiety than volleyball players. Women scored higher on somatic and cognitive state anxiety than men prior to playoff games. Results are discussed in terms of importance of a mult ivariate approach to studying competitive anxiety.