Abstract

Researchers who examine existing models of choking under pressure are beginning to explore the antecedents that predispose individuals to increased anxiety. Irrational beliefs (IBs) may be one such antecedent to “choking”, given that irrational beliefs are closely associated with anxiety intensity. This study aimed to investigate whether IBs influenced anxiety and performance under pressure. Experienced Australian football players (N = 35) completed an IBs questionnaire prior to an Australian football set shot experiment with low- and high-pressure. During both pressure conditions, participants completed a state anxiety questionnaire prior to completing 15 set shots on goal. Results indicated that cognitive and somatic anxiety increased from low- to high-pressure. For somatic anxiety, an IBs main effect approached significance, indicating higher somatic anxiety with increases in IBs. A marginally significant Condition main effect was found for performance, which decreased from low- to high-pressure, with no other effects for performance evident. Follow-up correlation analysis of seven athletes who likely experienced choking (i.e., greater than 15-point performance decrease) indicated a strong negative correlation between IBs and change in performance from low- to high-pressure. Further analyses for “chokers” indicated a significant IBs × Condition interaction, with performance tending to increase with increasing IBs under low-pressure and decrease with increasing IBs under high-pressure. This study provides initial, tentative support that IBs associated with performance trends of “chokers” under different pressure conditions may be dissimilar to those of “underperformers” or “clutch” performers. Applied implications for sport psychologists working with athletes are discussed.

Lay summary: This paper investigated whether inflexible thoughts (i.e., irrational beliefs- IBs) led to increased anxiety and “choking”. Athletes completed an IBs questionnaire, then an anxiety survey during a football kicking task under low- and high-pressure. Results indicated IBs may affect “chokers” response to pressure differently to other groups.

摘要

研究压力下窒息的现有模型的研究人员开始探索导致个人焦虑增加的前因。鉴于非理性信念与焦虑强度密切相关，非理性信念 (IBs) 可能是“窒息”的前因之一。本研究旨在调查 IB 是否会影响压力下的焦虑和表现。经验丰富的澳大利亚足球运动员（N = 35) 在使用低压和高压进行澳大利亚足球定位球实验之前完成了一份 IBs 问卷。在两种压力条件下，参与者在完成 15 次射门前完成了一份状态焦虑问卷。结果表明认知和躯体焦虑从低压到高压增加。对于躯体焦虑，IBs 主效应接近显着性，表明随着 IBs 的增加，躯体焦虑程度更高。发现对性能有轻微显着的条件主效应，从低压到高压降低，对性能没有其他明显影响。七名可能发生窒息的运动员的后续相关分析（即，大于 15 点的性能下降）表明 IB 与性能从低压到高压的变化之间存在强烈的负相关。对“扼流圈”的进一步分析表明，IBs × Condition 相互作用显着，性能往往随着低压下 IBs 的增加而增加，而随着高压下 IBs 的增加而降低。这项研究提供了初步的初步支持，即在不同压力条件下与“窒息者”的表现趋势相关的 IB 可能与“表现不佳”或“离合器”表现者的表现不同。讨论了与运动员一起工作的运动心理学家的应用意义。性能随着低压下IBs的增加而增加，随着高压下IBs的增加而下降。这项研究提供了初步的初步支持，即在不同压力条件下与“窒息者”的表现趋势相关的 IB 可能与“表现不佳”或“离合器”表现者的表现不同。讨论了与运动员一起工作的运动心理学家的应用意义。性能随着低压下IBs的增加而增加，随着高压下IBs的增加而下降。这项研究提供了初步的初步支持，即在不同压力条件下与“窒息者”的表现趋势相关的 IB 可能与“表现不佳”或“离合器”表现者的表现不同。讨论了与运动员一起工作的运动心理学家的应用意义。

总结：本文调查了僵化的想法（即非理性信念-IBs）是否会导致焦虑和“窒息”增加。运动员完成了 IBs 问卷，然后是在低压和高压下踢足球任务期间的焦虑调查。结果表明，IB 可能会影响“窒息”对压力的反应，与其他组不同。