Patterns of change in psychological variables leading up to competition in superior versus inferior performers

Boat, R. ORCID: 0000-0002-4897-8118 and Taylor, I.M., 2015. Patterns of change in psychological variables leading up to competition in superior versus inferior performers. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 37 (3), pp. 244-256. ISSN 0895-2779

Preview

Text 8952_Boat.pdf - Post-print Download (403kB) | Preview

Abstract

The study explored patterns of change in a number of potentially performance-related 27 variables (i.e., fatigue, social support, self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, mental skills) 28 during the lead up to a competitive triathlon, and whether these patterns of change differed 29 for relatively superior versus inferior performers. Forty-two triathletes completed an 30 inventory measuring the study variables every other day during a two-week period leading up 31 to competition. Performance was assessed using participants’ race time, and using a self-32 referenced relative score compared to personal best times. Multilevel growth curve analyses 33 revealed significant differences in growth trajectories over the two week period in mental 34 skills use, social support, and fatigue. The results provide novel insight into how athletes’ 35 fluctuating psychological state in the two weeks prior to competition may be crucial in 36 determining performance.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Creators:	Boat, R. and Taylor, I.M.
Publisher:	Human Kinetics
Date:	June 2015
Volume:	37
Number:	3
ISSN:	0895-2779
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1123/jsep.2014-0216 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	18 Aug 2017 09:47
Last Modified:	29 Sep 2017 15:12
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/31430

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Views

Downloads