title: Stressors, social support, and effects upon performance in golf.
abstract: In this study, we extended the work of Rees and Hardy (2004) by examining the main and stress-buffering effects of social support upon sports performance in a different context, using a different outcome measure, and a specific time-frame. A high-level performance sample of 117 male golfers (mean age 24.8, s = 8.3) completed measures of social support and stressors before competitions. Performance outcome was recorded. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant (P < 0.05) main effects for stressors upon performance in 8 of the 11 models tested (R2 = 0.08 - 0.21). Over and above the variance accounted for by stressors, there were significant (P < 0.05) main effects for social support upon performance in all models tested (DeltaR2 = 0.10 - 0.24). In all models, stressors were associated with worse performance, whereas social support was associated with better performance. There were no significant interactions (stress-buffering effects). Main effects for social support upon performance suggest that social support may have aided performance directly, regardless of the level of stress.
authors.affiliation: Exercise and Sport Psychology Unit, School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, USA. tim.j.rees@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Lew
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006055:Golf / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires