Relationship of intensity and direction of competitive anxiety with copingstrategies

The purpose of the present study was to examine how coping strategies in sp ort relate to differences in levels of anxiety intensity and to the interpr etation of these levels as being facilitative or debilitative to performanc e. British university athletes were asked to recall a recent stressful situ ation in their sport, the coping strategies they used, and the intensity an d direction of their anxiety symptoms. Results showed that perceptions of f acilitative cognitive anxiety were related to the use of problem-focused co ping. High levels of cognitive anxiety intensity were related to emotion-fo cused coping and avoidance coping. With regard to somatic anxiety, there wa s a significant interaction between the intensity and direction dimensions in that similar high levels of anxiety intensity were related to different coping strategies, depending on whether somatic anxiety was perceived to be facilitative or debilitative. From a practical point of view, the results show that athletes with positive perceptions of their anxiety level are abl e to use effective coping strategies. Lastly, suggestions are offered for f urther exploration of the nature of the interrelationship between coping st rategies and anxiety.