Profile of sport competition anxiety trait and psychological coping skills among secondary school athletes in Enugu State, South East Nigeria

Authors

Tochi Emmanuel Iwuagwu, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaFollow
Joshua Emeka Umeifekwem, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaFollow
Samuel Ndubuisi Igwe, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaFollow
Okechukwu Kingsley Oforka, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaFollow
Oluchukwu Precious Udeh, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaFollow

Abstract

Background: The study investigated the profile of sport competition anxiety trait and psychological coping skills (PCS) among secondary school athletes in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Material/Methods: A total number of 420 secondary school athletes participated in a cross-sectional study. The profile of sport competition anxiety trait and psychological coping skills of the participants were measured using a 46-item questionnaire consisting of three socio-demographic factors as part I, a 15-item Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) as part II and a 28-item Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI) as part III. Mean, standard deviation and linear regressions were used for analyses. Results: The findings revealed that secondary school athletes had an average level of anxiety (mean±SD=20.79±3.776), and greater strength on psychological coping skills (mean±SD=49.92±19.20) while participating in sport competitions. Coachability, Goal setting and mental preparation, and Freedom from worry had significant association (p<.05) with athletes’ Sport Competition Anxiety. Conclusions: This research proves that increase in psychological coping skills leads to increase in athletes’ competition anxiety while participating in sport. However, sport psychologists, Physical Education teachers, games masters/mistresses and coaches in secondary schools need to acquire psychological skills through specialized seminar or expertise training so as to enable athletes to cope with sport anxiety.

Recommended Citation

Iwuagwu TE, Umeifekwem JE, Igwe SN, Oforka OK, Udeh OP. Profile of sport competition anxiety trait and psychological coping skills among secondary school athletes in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2021;Suppl(2):75-87. doi: 10.29359/BJHPA.2021.Suppl.2.08

DOI

10.29359/BJHPA.2021.Suppl.2.08

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.