Affective responses to success and failure: a study of winning and losing in competitive rugby

Affective responses to success and failure in a competitive sport setting w ere investigated using a reversal theory framework in a replication and ext ension of a previous study [Kerr & van Schaik, (1995). Effects of game outc ome on psychological mood states in rugby. Personality and Individual Diffe rences, 19, 407-410.]. Participants were top-level Dutch male rugby players . Mood measures were administered pre- and postgame at four games: 2 games were won, 2 were lost. A mixed between and within subjects design was used for data analysis, in which game outcome (win or loss) was the between subj ects factor, and the within subjects factor was time of testing (pre- vs, p ostgame). Numerous statistically significant results concerning the emotion al states experienced prior to competitive sport and in response to winning and losing were obtained. Winning produced a range of pleasant emotional o utcomes and reductions in arousal and stress: losing produced strong unplea sant emotional changes, a reduction in arousal but no reduction in stress. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.