Showing papers on "Somatic anxiety published in 1996"

Interpretation of Competitive Anxiety Symptoms and Goal Attainment Expectancies

Abstract: Using Jones’s (1995) control model of debilitative and facilitative competitive anxiety, competitive swimmers (N = 91) were assessed on the intensity and direction of their cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety responses one hour before an important race, and they completed scales examining outcome, performance, and process goals. It was hypothesized that there would be no difference in intensity of cognitive and somatic anxiety but that swimmers with positive expectancies of goal attainment would report their symptoms as being more facilitative. Forty-five swimmers who had set all three types of goal were divided into positive and negative/uncertain goal attainment expectancy groups for analysis. MANOVA supported the hypothesis in the case of cognitive anxiety and provided partial support in the case of somatic anxiety across all three goal types. Cognitive and somatic anxiety direction scores were the largest contributors to the significant multivariate effects. Eta-squared calculations showed that the ...

Relationship Between Self-efficacy, Wrestling Performance, and Affect Prior to Competition

Abstract: This study examined the relationship between self-efficacy, wrestling performance, and affect prior to competition. 15 minutes prior to competition, 70 male high school wrestlers (M = 16.03 years) completed a self-efficacy assessment, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988), and the Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Inventory-2 (Martens, Burton, Vealey, Bump, & Smith, 1990). Self-efficacy was found to be significantly associated with positive and negative affect and cognitive and somatic anxiety. Consistent with social cognitive theory, self-efficacy was a stronger predictor of performance when the measure was process oriented rather than win-loss. The findings suggest that confusion and equivocality in the literature could be removed if researchers assessed self-efficacy in a microanalytical fashion. Future research investigating the affective antecedents of performance should go beyond merely assessing negative states and recognize the potential role positive affect may p...

The Interactive Effects of Intensity and Direction of Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety and Self-Confidence upon Performance

Abstract: This study examines intensity and direction of competitive state anxiety symptoms, and the interactive influence of anxiety subcomponents upon netball performance. Netball players (N = 45) completed the modified Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and a retrospective performance measure over a season, utilizing an intraindividual design. The modified CSAI-2 includes a direction scale assessing the facilitative or debilitative interpretation of the original intensity symptoms. Although the facilitative influence of anxiety upon performance did not emerge directly through the direction scale, a significant interaction emerged from the two-factor Cognitive Anxiety × Physiological Arousal quadrant analyses, suggesting that anxiety may enhance performance, as proposed by catastrophe model predictions. Findings also highlighted the importance of self-confidence for possible inclusion in higher order catastrophe models.

A test of catastrophe models of anxiety and sports performance against multidimensional anxiety theory models using the method of dynamic differences

Abstract: Guastello's method of dynamic differences was used to fit catastrophe and multidimensional anxiety theory based behavior surfaces to data obtained from eight experienced golfers. The subjects were first taught to self-report their cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence levels as a single integer on a scale from 1 (low) to 27 (high). These single integer scales were then used to monitor levels of cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence, together with physiological arousal (operationalized as heart rate), prior to each putt during a Stapleford golf competition. All data was standardized within subjects in order to control for individual differences in response sensitivity and putting ability. Preliminary examination of the results suggested that the catastrophe models were superior to the multidimensional anxiety theory models, and that the inclusion of self-confidence significantly improved the goodness of fit of both models. However, further tests of other control models suggested that the apparent superiority of the catstrophe models was probably due to the inclusion of a temporal factor in Guastello's method of dynamic differences. It was concluded that the results do not offer any clear evidence for the superiority of either catastrophe or multidimensional anxiety theory based models of anxiety and performance. They do suggest that self-confidence is an important factor in performance which is at least partially independent of cognitive anxiety. They also suggest that future research might benefit considering performance as an ongoing temporal process rather than a discrete event.

A troubled youth: Relations with somatization, depression and anxiety in adulthood

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Childhood experiences profoundly affect later functioning as an adult. Family practitioners are well-placed to discover the links between childhood troubles and later somatization, depression or anxiety. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the interrelation of somatization, depressive and anxiety disorders in frequently attending patients in general practice; to investigate whether these problems are related to a childhood history of illness experiences, deprivation, life events and abuse; and to determine the independent contributions of these childhood factors to the prediction of adult somatization, depressive and anxiety disorders. METHODS: One hundred and six adult general practice patients with high consultation frequency were studied. Somatization was operationalized as a more comprehensive version of DSM-III-R somatization disorder (5 complaints; SSI 5/5). For depression (ever depressive and/or dysthymic) and anxiety (panic, phobias and/or generalized anxiety) DSM-III-R criteria were used. Using a structured questionnaire we assessed illness experiences, deprivation of parental care, abuse (sexual/physical) and other life events before age 19. RESULTS: The overlap between somatization, depression and anxiety was largely accounted for by 16 patients with a triple problem: somatization and depression and anxiety. Somatization was specifically related to deprivation, depression to other life events. Abuse (prevalence 16%) independently predicted psychiatric problems in general. Youth experiences before age 12 were most important. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of triple problems suggests a need to reconsider concepts like somatic anxiety and anxious depression. The specificity of the relation between deprivation and somatization and of the relation between other life events and depression indicates that distinct causal mechanisms (in youth) contribute to these problems. Language: en

Origins of individual differences in anxiety proneness: a twin/adoption study of the anxiety‐related scales from the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP)

Abstract: The genetic and environmental origins of individual differences in scores on the anxiety-proneness scales from the Karolinska Scales of Personality were explored using a twin/adoption study design in a sample consisting of 15 monozygotic twin pairs reared apart, and 26 monozygotic and 29 dizygotic twin pairs reared together. The results showed that genetic factors accounted for individual differences in scores on the psychasthenia and somatic anxiety scales. The genetic determinants were not specific to each scale, but were common to both scales. Shared-rearing environmental determinants were important for individual differences in lack of assertiveness and psychic anxiety, and were common to both scales. Individual differences in muscular tension were found to be attributable to the effects of correlated environments. The most important factor explaining individual differences for all scales was the non-shared environment component. The evidence for an aetiologically heterogeneous anxiety-proneness construct emphasizes the appropriateness of a multi dimensional approach to anxiety proneness.

Anxiety and heart rate under psychological stress: The effects of exercise-training

Abstract: The effects of a 12-week exercise-training program on cognitive, somatic, and behavioral anxiety and on heart rate responses to evaluative stress were scrutinized in 89 subjects randomly assigned to an experimental (exercise) or a control group. The training program consisted of exercises that were aimed to the improvement of the general physical fitness (i.e., strength, flexibility, and endurance). Following the 12-week training period, exercising subjects showed improved motor skill capacity as well as higher VO(2) max. In an anxiety inciting test situation, that consisted of the video-taped delivery of a 5-min speech, a mental arithmetic and a fine motor task, exercising subjects showed more favourable responses than control subjects in three ways: (a) they exhibited lower behavioral anxiety during the anticipation phase of the three stressors, (b) they reported lower cognitive and somatic anxiety during the anxiety provoking situation, and (c) their heart rate recovered faster, in contrast to both their baseline heart rate and the control subjects' heart rate, from the stress episode. These results demonstrate that a fitness-oriented exercise program has anxiolytic properties. They also provide a primary evidence that overt behavioral anxiety, as opposed to the usually measured self-reported anxiety, may be affected by exercise.

Prodromal symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Abstract: Prodromal symptoms were investigated in 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The large majority of patients (93%) reported at least one prodromal symptom before disease onset. Generalized anxiety, irritability, indecision, phobic and somatic anxiety occurred in about half of patients. Also common were depressive symptoms such as fatigue, lowered self-esteem, depressed mood, pessimism, impaired work, and guilt. The results suggest a close association of obsessions and compulsions with affective symptoms.

Temperamental vulnerability and suicide risk after attempted suicide.

Abstract: The aim was to extend recent findings of suggested temperamental features in attempted suicide and to explore possible domains of vulnerability to suicide risk after attempted suicide. Fifty-four psychiatric inpatients hospitalized after a suicide attempt underwent lumbar puncture for analysis of CSF 5-HIAA concentration and also completed the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) before discharge from the hospital. Suicide attempters scored high on Somatic Anxiety, Psychic Anxiety, and Muscular Tension, and low on Socialization, findings that support recent findings in suicide attempters followed up after an emergency room visit. Five patients committed early suicide, i.e., within 3 years, and the overall long-term suicide mortality after attempted suicide was 13%. There were significant correlations between survival time among early suicides and CSF 5-HIAA (r = 27; p 7 .054), and the following KSP scale t scores: Somatic Anxiety (r = - .96;p c .05), Impulsivity (r = -28; p < .05), and Socialization (r = .90; p < .05). KSP Socialization showed correlations with CSF 5-HIAA (r = .89; p = .046) among the early suicides. Features of temperamental vulnerability to suicide risk after attempted suicide might involve anxiety proneness, impulsivity, low socialization, and low CSF 5-HIAA.

Perception of anxiety and expectations of performance

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine expectations of performance and the directionality of anxiety. Directionality refers to the facilitative or debilitative aspects of anxiety. Subjects were 91 athletes competing in soccer, swimming, and track and field. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 with an added Facilitative/Debilitative scale and Expectation of Performance scale was employed. Analysis showed that athletes with lower scores on cognitive and somatic anxiety, and higher scores on self-confidence perceived their anxiety as more facilitative of performance. These athletes also had significantly higher scores on the Expectation of Performance scale.

Convergent Validity of the Depression-Happiness Scale with the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index:

Abstract: In recent years the study of subjective well-being has attracted much research interest. A 1993 operational definition is the Depression-Happiness Scale of McGreal and Joseph. The aim of the present research was to investigate the convergent validity of the Depression-Happiness Scale with the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. Among 40 undergraduate university students, higher scores on the Depression-Happiness Scale were significantly associated with lower scores on Free floating anxiety (-.63), Somatic anxiety (-.56), Depression (-.78), and Hysteria (-.36) scales but not the Phobic anxiety (-.27) or Obsessionality (-.25) scales of the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. These data provide further evidence for the convergent validity of the Depression-Happiness Scale.

Analysis of multidimensional state anxiety in horse trials.

Abstract: The analysis of competitive state anxiety and its effect on sports performance has been undertaken by many researchers (Karteroliotis & Gill, 1987; Martens, Vealey, Burton, 1990; Jones, Swain & Hardy, 1993). This thesis focused on multidimensional competitive state anxiety and performance within the context of British Horse Society (BHS) one day horse trials. Initially, subjects (n=105) completed the Riders' Perceptions Questionnaire which was devised by the author to assess the nature of the interaction between the rider and horse during performance from the rider's perspective. Initial support for the rider and horse interaction was obtained and it was suggested that the rider's perceptions of the horse's performance must be taken into account when examining the anxiety experienced by the rider. Analysis of anxiety incorporated the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory - 2 (CSAT-2; Martens et al., 1990). Relationships between multidimensional anxiety, skill level, actual performance and perceived success were assessed. The results supported the view of multidimensional anxiety with psychological, physiological and behavioural components that change differently throughout the competition (Karteroliotis & Gill, 1987; Jones & Cale, 1989; Martens et al., 1990). Skill level was found to affect the level of anxiety experienced. Novice riders exhibited higher levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety and lower levels of self-confidence than Intermediate or Advanced riders. The effect of skill level in subsequent studies was similar in trend but the results were not significant. Within group variability was high, thus future assessment should assess anxiety levels utilising a more sensitive measure of skill level. Advanced riders were also found to perceive cognitive and somatic anxiety and self-confidence as more facilitative to performance than Intermediate or Novice riders. The assessment of the direction dimension of anxiety was particularly useful for the development of stress management programmes (Maynard, Hemmings & Warwick- Evans, 1995) and hence for the three collective case studies incorporated in the final stage of this thesis. The results provided evidence to support the current multidimensional anxiety theory within the sport of horse trials. Antecedents and causal attributions related to anxiety were measured. Perceived readiness, self-confidence and personal control were key factors affecting the performance and combating the negative effects of anxiety. Perceived readiness predicted performance. Further analysis of antecedents more specific to horse trials may help identify predictors of CSAI-2 components. Perceived success was associated with increases in self-confidence and was a significant predictor of performance in the next phase of the horse trial. Future research is encouraged into anxiety between phases of a competition to assess the effect of perceived success on future anxiety levels and performance more thoroughly. The final aim in this thesis was to assess the effectiveness of stress management intervention programmes via three collective case studies. The application of a stress management intervention programme (SMIP) was undertaken for each case study. Case study one is reported in detail whereas case studies two and three are summarised. Inter-case study comparisons were undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the SMIP. The SMIP's were effective in developing the rider's awareness of their psychological state, increasing self-confidence and enabling riders to employ coping skills successfully during a performance. Performance improvements occurred for each subject which also corresponded with an increased level of perceived success for each subject. The three collective case studies provided initial support for the usage of SMIP's for horse trials riders and hence supported the final aim in this thesis. The research has identified competitive state anxiety within horse trials in accordance with other sports (Martens et al., 1990). It is anticipated that the information will be used to aid riding instructors understand and predict the detrimental effects of anxiety for riders. The successful usage of SMIP techniques will provide valuable assistance for riders, coaches and BHS horse trials team selectors wishing to use stress management techniques for horse trials competition.

An examination of debilitative and facilitative competitive anxiety.

Abstract: This thesis conducted a detailed examination of debilitative and facilitative dimensions of competitive state anxiety. Competitive anxiety was assessed using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) which was modified to measure not only the 'intensity' (level) but also 'direction' (facilitative/debilitative) of cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence. A trait version of the questionnaire was also used. Three different research methodologies were employed in this thesis. The first two studies adopted a quantitative research methodology, Study 3 incorporated qualitative techniques and the final investigation addressed the research question via a single-subject design study. The first study investigated intensity and direction dimensions of state anxiety as a function of skill level in a sample of elite and non-elite swimmers. The results revealed that while no differences were evident between the groups on the intensity of cognitive and somatic anxiety, the elite group reported more facilitative interpretations of these symptoms than the non-elite group. Self-confidence was also higher in the elite group. The results suggested elite performers do not differ from nonelite performers on the level of anxiety they experience, but they do have a more positive interpretation of these symptoms in terms of consequence for performance. The second study examined the predictions of a control process model of anxiety proposed by Jones (1995a). Specifically, the study examined the directional perceptions of anxiety as a function of goal attainment expectations. Results showed that swimmers with favourable expectancies of their ability to achieve their goals reported no differences in intensity levels to the swimmers with negative or uncertain expectancies of goal achievement. However, more facilitative interpretations of pre-race symptoms were reported by the positive goal expectancy group. These findings highlighted important applied implications for achieving appropriate pre-performance states via setting appropriate goals that are within the control of the performer. Study three addressed how elite performers have acquired the ability to interpret their anxiety symptoms as being facilitative towards upcoming performance. Qualitative interview techniques and inductive content analysis revealed that the performers did experience negative cognitive and somatic anxiety symptoms when they first started competing. However, by appropriate education and natural learning experiences, the performers became aware that the nerves they experienced could be positive towards the upcoming race. Furthermore, the swimmers developed, and now follow, detailed pre-competition and pre-race routines to maintain this facilitative interpretation. The findings generated important practical implications for attempting to restructure negative interpretations of anxiety symptoms. The final study examined the effects of a multimodal intervention programme on performers debilitated by their anxiety symptoms, via a staggered multiple-baseline single-subject design over a series of ten competitive races. Following the intervention, the results showed that although intensity levels remained stable, the three performers receiving the intervention reported more facilitative interpretations of both cognitive and somatic anxiety. Self-confidence also increased following the intervention treatment. These findings demonstrated that information generated by elite performers can be transferred successfully in ecologically valid sport environments. The programme of research conducted in this thesis provides evidence that the conventional notion of anxiety as negative towards performance can be questioned and reconceptualised to include positive consequences for performance. The results highlight the importance of future research into other emotions that may have been formerly labelled as anxiety, but which denote a different emotional state altogether.