title: Precompetitive state anxiety, objective and subjective performance, and causal attributions in competitive swimmers.
abstract: This study investigated the nature of the relationship between precompetitive state anxiety (CSAI-2C), subjective (race position) and objective (satisfaction) performance outcomes, and self-rated causal attributions (CDS-IIC) for performance in competitive child swimmers. Race position, subjective satisfaction, self-confidence, and, to a lesser extent, cognitive state anxiety (but not somatic state anxiety) were associated with the attributions provided by the children for their swimming performance. The study partially supported the self-serving bias hypothesis; winners used the ego-enhancing attributional strategy, but the losers did not use an ego-protecting attributional style. Age but not gender appeared to influence the attributions provided in achievement situations.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Sport, Health & Exercise Science, The University of Hull, UK.
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rowcliffe
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borkoles
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013550:Swimming