Interpretation of competitive trait anxiety symptoms as a function of locus of control beliefs

This study investigated differences in the cognitive labelling of competitive anxiety symptoms generally experienced prior to an important competition as a function of locus of control beliefs. Eighty three university and county sport performers, including 45 males and 38 females, responded to the modified Competitive Trait Anxiety Inventory-2 (Jones & Swain, 1995) which measures the intensity of pre-competition anxiety symptoms generally experienced, as well as how they are generally interpreted on a debilitative-facilitative continuum. The performers also responded to the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966). The results showed that although there were no significant differences between those having an internal and those having an external locus of control on the intensity of their cognitive and somatic anxiety symptoms, the internals viewed their trait anxiety as significantly morefacilitative and less debilitative than the externals. Discriminant function analysis corroborated these findings by showing that the best predictors for distinguishing between the two locus of control groups were the direction scores for cognitive and somatic trait anxiety. The results of the present study provide support for the need to assess the direction as well as the intensity of competitive trait anxiety. Furthermore, they corroborate findings of other studies which have shown that internal locus of control is associated with more adaptive emotional responses in sport.