An Analysis of Psychological Skills Training Programs' Influence on Intercollegiate Female Athletes' Anxiety, Concentration, Motivation, and Coping Resources: A Single-Subject/Qualitative Design

<p>A single-subject/qualitative design was employed to determine if psychological skills training (PST) programs influenced athletes' levels and interpretations of anxiety, concentration, motivation, and coping resources. Two female collegiate swimmers high in anxiety and low in motivation and coping skills were selected from a participant pool of 53 swimmers, divers, volleyball, and soccer players. Both athletes completed an inventory packet consisting of a modified version ofthe Sport Anxiety Scale (SAS), Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), and the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) as well as an interview before and after an eight-week personalized PST program. Results indicated positive changes in both participants. Both had a reduction in total anxiety levels and an increase in total personal coping resources. Participant 020 also had a reduction in somatic, worry, and concentration disruption levels, and less debilitative interpretations in the somatic and worry subscales ofthe SAS. Concentration disruption direction remained the same. Participant 020 also had a decrease in amotivation and an increase in all three intrinsic motivation subscales (IM-for accomplishment, IM-for stimulation, and IM-to know). The ACSI-28 subscales that experienced an increase were coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, and confidence and achievement motivation. Participant 021 reported a reduction in the amount of somatic anxiety experienced and more facilitative interpretations of worry and concentration disruption. Extrinsic motivation subscales were reduced (EM-extemal control and EM-intemal pressure). The ACSI-28 subscales that increased were as follows: coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting/mental preparation, concentration, and freedom from worry. Results are discussed in terms ofoverall strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future research.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Kinesiology with an Emphasis in Sport Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Year dc:date.available

2002

Author dc:creator

• Will, Michelle S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Charles J. Hardy
• A. Barry Joyner

• ETD
• Psychological skills training programs
• Female collegiate athletes
• Anxiety
• Concentration
• Motivation
• Coping resources
• Swimmers
• Sport anxiety scale
• SAS
• Sport motivation scale
• SMS
• Athletic coping skills inventory-28
• ACSI-28
• Kinesiology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd_legacy/684

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd_legacy-1305