Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2013
Abstract
Background:
The influence of self-presentation concerns on the adolescent sport experience has received scant empirical attention. The purpose of this investigation was to prospectively examine the relationship among self-presentational concerns and pre-game affective states among middle and high school aged football players.
Methods:
American football players (n = 112; mean age = 15.57 years) completed a measure of self-presentational concerns (SPSQ, McGowan, et al., 2008) a week prior to the measurement of selected pre-game affective states (i.e., attentiveness, self-assurance, serenity, and fear).
Results:
Regression analyses revealed that concerns about appearing athletically untalented negatively contributed to the significant prediction ( p < 0.001) of pre-game attentiveness, b = 0.43, R2 adj = 19.5% ( p < 0.001), and self-assurance, b = 0.38, R2 adj = 11.9% ( p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
These findings highlight the importance of reducing self-presentational concerns in promoting positive pre-game mental states that likely impact the quality of athletes’ competitive play and experience.
Recommended Citation
Podlog L, Lochbaum M, Kleinert J, Dimmock J, Newton M, Schulte S. The relationship between self-presentation concerns and pre-game affect among adolescent American football players. J Sport Health Sci. 2013;2:168-175. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2012.06.002