EFFECTS OF TRAIT AND SITUATIONAL SELF-HANDICAPPING ON COMPETITIVE ANXIETY AMONG ATHLETES

Initial evidence suggests that the employment of self-handicapping str ategies has a beneficial effect on negative affective states associate d with the perceived threat of evaluative contexts (Harris & Snyder, 1 986; Leary, 1986). The present study sought to describe the type of se lf-handicapping behaviors demonstrated by youth athletes (N=238) as we ll as to assess the stress-buffering role of athlete self-handicapping on indices of competitive state anxiety. Specifically, it was hypothe sized that among high trait-handicapping athletes, those who report a greater degree of performance-debilitating obstacles prior to competit ion would demonstrate lowered cognitive and somatic state anxiety as w ell as greater state self-confidence than nonhandicapping athletes. Ho wever, MANOVA results indicated that both high trait and situational s elf-handicappers demonstrate elevated state anxiety immediately prior to competition. Results are discussed in relation to the possible role of state anxiety as a salient self-handicapping strategy within compe titive sport.