Self-consciousness and trait anxiety as predictors of choking in sport.
The present study was designed to examine dispositional self-consciousness and trait anxiety as predictors of choking in sport. Sixty-six basketball players completed the Self-Consciousness Scale and the Sport Anxiety Scale prior to completing 20 free throws in low-pressure and high-pressure conditions. A manipulation check showed that participants experienced significantly higher levels of state anxiety in the high-pressure condition. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses supported the hypothesis that self-conscious athletes were more susceptible to choking under pressure. The best predictors of choking were private self-consciousness and somatic trait anxiety that together accounted for 35% of the explained variance. We discuss a number of possible explanations regarding the discrepancy between the present results and previous studies mainly relating to task characteristics, skill level of participants and manipulations of pressure.
Wang
J
J
School of Human Movement, Recreation, Performance, Victoria University, Victoria, Austalia.
Marchant
D
D
Morris
T
T
Gibbs
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001490:Basketball / Q000523:psychology; D003243:Consciousness; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis