Module 4

Question 1

What is the definition of arousal in sport and exercise?

Answer 1

Physiological and psychological activation of an individual’s autonomic nervous system, varying from deep sleep to peak activation (Gould et al., 2002).

Question 2

What is anxiety

Answer 2

An emotional response characterised by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease, often in relation to an upcoming event or uncertain outcomes.

Question 3

What are the two dimensions of anxiety?

Answer 3

Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic Anxiety

Question 4

What is cognitive anxiety?

Answer 4

⚬ Mental dimension
■ Encompasses feelings of worry, concern, apprehension, and
self-focus.
■ Leads to a reduced ability to concentrate on task.

Over analyzing task

Question 5

What is somatic anxiety?

Answer 5

⚬ Physiological dimension

■ Perceptions of the automatic response of the body: increased
sweating, racing heart, muscle tension, and trembling.

More to do with the body

Question 6

Trait and State Anxiety example

Answer 6

Trait: Perceiving a situation as a threat, such as a tennis player who gets extremely nervous before a match and experiences the same anxiety during training, with this mindset leading to performance-related anxiety.

State: A more temporary feeling of anxiety, only experienced during the tennis match itself.

Question 7

What is trait anxiety?

Answer 7

Trait anxiety is a personality characteristic that remains relatively stable over time, a person high in trait anxiety will be frequently anxious almost irrespective of the situation.

Question 8

What is State anxiety?

Answer 8

temporary feelings that can change from one moment to the next, or in different situations.

Question 9

The dimensions of anxiety Response

Answer 9

Intensity, Frequency, Directional interpretation

Question 10

The intensity of the anxiety symptoms

Answer 10

How much is the heart racing, how much are we thinking about the worries

Question 11

The number (or frequency) of anxiety-related thoughts and physical symptoms

Answer 11

Measure in a percentage of time, what percentage of time are you thinking, can I do this or this

Question 12

The directional interpretations (positive or negative) of anxiety symptoms

Answer 12

How do they perceive what is happening

Can be a great motivator, or terrible.

Question 13

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - PERSONAL (Gender: sport vs Exercise)

Answer 13

Sport: Research findings are inconsistent.

Exercise: Women consistently report higher levels of social physique anxiety than men (Kowalski et al., 2006; O’Hara et al., 2014).

Social physique anxiety more pripominant in women

Question 14

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - PERSONAL (Skill: Sport vs Exercise)

Answer 14

Sport: More skilled athletes view anxiety as facilitative, less skilled athletes see it as debilitative (Hanton & Jones, 1997).

Exercise: Experience has not been widely studied.

Question 15

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - PERSONAL (trait: Sport vs Exercise)

Answer 15

Sport: Highly trait anxious athletes feel more intense anxiety but interpret it similarly to low trait anxious athletes.

Exercise: Those with high trait social physique anxiety avoid public exercise but may still work out privately.

Question 16

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - PERSONAL (Confidence: Sport vs Exercise)

Answer 16

Sport: Higher self-confidence reduces pre-competitive anxiety and helps athletes view it as facilitative (Bray et al., 2000; Hanton et al., 2008).

Exercise: Low perceived ability raises anxiety, while confidence in appearing fit reduces social physique anxiety (Gammage et al., 2004).

Question 17

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - PERSONAL (Coping: Sport vs Exercise)

Answer 17

Sport: Coping skills help manage anxiety before and during competition (Orlick & Partington, 1988; Haney, 2004).

Exercise: Adolescents use exercise to cope with social physique anxiety (Kowalski et al., 2006), but those with strong exercise identity and high anxiety may be at risk for exercise dependence (Cook et al., 2015).

Question 18

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - ENVIRONMENTAL (Sport: Temporal Patterning of Anxiety)

Answer 18

• Somatic anxiety rises sharply just before
competition and decreasing during and after.

• Cognitive anxiety remains high and stable until
competition starts, then steadily decreases.

Question 19

SOURCES OF ANXIETY - ENVIRONMENTAL (Exercise: Temporal Patterning of Anxiety)

Answer 19

New environments, mirrors, clothing choices, and exercising with others can increase social anxiety, especially in those with low confidence or high social physique anxiety. (Dasinger & Solmon, 2021; Focht & Hausenblas, 2004; Gammage et al., 2004).

Question 20

How does cognitive anxiety change before and during competition?

Answer 20

Cognitive anxiety remains high until competition starts, and then it slowly decreases.

Question 21

Underlining factors of Arousal

Answer 21

• High arousal results in physiological and psychological symptoms

• Neither pleasant nor unpleasant

• No ideal level of arousal for athletic performance

Question 22

Underlining factors of Anxiety

Answer 22

• Elicited after an appraisal (an assessment)

• Universal across people from all cultures

• Distinct physiology

• Discrete facial expression

• Associated with “action tendencies”

Question 23

Anxiety (Approach vs Avoidance)

Answer 23

Approach: You are appeasing that anxiety, seeing it has a challenge or a motivator, self talking self to believe it s a poster feeling

Avoidance: Mentally checking out, do not want to face it

Question 24

Can Anxiety can heighten arousal?(explain)

Answer 24

• yes, the Feelings of worry, doubt, and nervousness can increase physiological arousal.

Question 25

Arousal can lead to Anxiety (explain)

Answer 25

• When arousal levels become too high, an athlete may start feeling overwhelmed, perceiving their physiological arousal as excessive worry or doubt.

Question 26

3 Specific types anxiety experienced by individuals in varying situations

Answer 26

Social anxiety
Competitive anxiety
Social physique anxiety

Question 27

Social anxiety

Answer 27

occurs when people experience (or think they will experience) negative evaluations from others

Question 28

Competitive anxiety

Answer 28

a feeling of nervousness or uneasiness that individuals can sometimes experience before or during an event.

Athletes can experience competition anxiety due to various reasons, such as: Pressure to win or perform well. Unrealistic expectations set by athletes themselves, coaches, parents or peers

Question 29

Social physique Anxiety

Answer 29

feelings of distress or apprehension about others potentially evaluating one’s physical appearance in a negative manner