Module 4, Stress, Emotions and Coping in Sport Flashcards
The stress process is complex and includes:
- appraisal of demands
- coping response (how we respond to demand of situation)
- stress response
Stress and Stressors
stress = an experience produced through a person-situation relationship that is perceived as taxing or exceeding the athlete’s resources
stressors = a demand made on the individual (event, situation) which is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources (something that causes stress)
- stressor produce the experience of stress
Sources of Stress in Sport
- psychological concerns: competitive stress, stress going into big competition, fear of injury, mental preparedness, pregame stress
- physical concerns: injury, physique, age, pain, physical inactivity, technique, strength level, chronic injury
- social concerns: joining a new team (new environment), negative relation with others, lack of attention, coaching changes, parental expectations (anything that had to do with interpersonal relations), scouts at a game (could be chronic or acute)
- environmental concerns: media, financial stressors, weather, organizational demands (chronic), playing conditions
- career and life concerns: dedicating whole life to sport; making it hard to transition out of sport, balancing school and sports for student athletes, professional athletes not managing money properly, life demands
Acute of Chronic Stress
-> acute stress occurs over a short period of time, onset is sudden (sudden situation in a game, exam (student athletes), short injuries)
-> chronic stress occurs over a long period of time (ongoing conflict with coach and/or teammate, issues in everyday life, chronic pain)
Expected and Unexpected Stressors
- expected stressors are those we can anticipate and prepare for (upcoming, important game)
- unexpected stressors are not anticipated and we cannot plan for them (refs, conflict during game)
- unexpected stressors are generally perceived as more stressful than expected stressors
How do we determine what is stressful? Primary and Secondary Appraisal
primary appraisal <-> secondary appraisal
primary appraisal:
- evaluation of ‘what is at stake’ for the athlete
- influenced by goals, values
secondary appraisal:
evaluation of ‘what can be done’ by the athlete
* happen at the same time; very rapidly - equally important
* cognitive appraisal is made up of both primary and secondary appraisal
How do we determine what is stressful? Appraisal Processes (harm/loss, threat, challenge)
primary appraisal <-> secondary appraisal -> harm/loss, threat, challenge appraisals
harm/loss: appraisal of psychological damage and loss that has already occured
threat: anticipating harm that may or is likely to occur (ex. diver who is afraid to dive off 10m board)
challenge: although there are obstacles in the way they can be overcome and there are benefits to succeeding in difficult situations
- threat if what harm is going to occur causing anxiety
* each type of appraisal elicits different emotions, and emotions impact performance!
Emotions and Coping in Sport (what are emotions?)
emotions are a response to an event
- quick onset
- short duration
- common cognitive appraisal - threat and challenge
- distinctive physiological patterns - difference between anxiety and guilt
- distinctive subjective feeling
* the way in which an individual appraises a situation will influence the emotions they experience
Core Emotions
negative emotions
- anger, anxiety, shame, fright, guilt, sadness, envy and jealousy
positive emotions
- hope, relief, happiness, pride, love, gratitude and compassion
* celebrating too early can turn into negative emotions (positive emotions are not always associated with good or better performance)
Coping
- an ongoing dynamic process that includes conscious and deliberate cognitive, behavioural and affective efforts undertaken in order to manage appraised demands (stressors)
- management skills
◦ something you do that is routine to avoid the
stress
◦ stretching to avoid injury
◦ coping strategies can become management skills
overtime
Coping Strategies
many different ways of classifying coping: micro (what different approaches do they use to cope with stress - do not know the functions of the coping strategies) versus macro approaches (consider the goals or functions that athletes use to cope - seen using this more)
Macro model: (double check)
* problem-focused coping
* emotion-focused coping
* avoidance coping
- task-oriented coping
- disengagement coping
- distraction-oriented coping
Coping Strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and avoidance)
problem-focused coping
- efforts directed at changing the transaction
- changing equipment, changing team, practicing more
emotion-focused coping
- efforts directed at changing the emotional response without changing the transaction
- engage in cognitive reapprasial - how may i improve going forward (doing bad on test)
- see emotional comfort from loved ones
avoidance
- disengaging mentally or physically
- avoiding the reality of a loss
- isolation - leaving the situation
- avoiding social interaction
Coping Strategies in Sport (task-oriented coping, disengagement coping and distraction-oriented coping)
focus on the internal and external stimuli
task-oriented coping (engagement coping)
- thought control, relaxation, increase effort
disengagement coping
- venting, withdrawal
distraction-oriented coping
- distancing and mental distraction, think about other things
Coping Effectiveness
…not the same as coping!
…subjective assessment that coping efforts worked to deal with the stressor or to manage one’s respond to the stressor
Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Coping
- adaptive coping is typically associated with problem-focused, approach-type strategies
- maladaptive coping is typically associated with avoidance or disengagement-type coping strategies
