Self-efficacy and causal attribution in female golfers

The aim of this study was to examine the nature of the relationship between self-efficacy and causal attribution in competitive sport. It was hypothesised that the stability and locus of causality of attributions made for performance would predict post-competition self-efficacy, and that athletes whose efficacy increased pre- to post-competition would make more internal and stable attributions for their performance than those whose efficacy decreased. Female golfers (N = 81; mean handicap = 19.32; mean playing experience = 14 years) competing in club competitions, completed pre- and post-competition self-efficacy questionnaires, performance measures, and the Causal Dimension Scale-II (CDS-II). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that under conditions of perceived success, attribulional stability was predictive of post-competition self-efficacy, whereas there were no attributional predictors of post-competition self-efficacy under conditions of perceived failure. MANOVA indicated that golfers whose efficacy increased made more internal and stable attributions for their performance than those whose efficacy decreased.