Coping effectiveness in competitive athletes

Jaclyn Marie Poliseo, Purdue University

Abstract

Stress is believed to be one of the most influential factors in whether athletes are able to perform to the best of their abilities (Lazarus, 2000). Athletes who are unable to cope effectively with stress may suffer from both performance problems and issues with psychological well being (Ntoumanis & Biddle, 1998). Framed within Lazarus’ (1999) cognitive-motivational-relational theory, this study attempt to understand the process of coping effectiveness in sport. Congruent with Lazarus’ conceptualization is the goodness-of-fit model of coping effectiveness (Folkman, 1991, 1992). According to this model, effective coping can be attained by having correspondence between appraisals of control and coping function. A compatible theory, Compas, Banez, Malcarne, & Worsham’s (1991) conceptualization, also indicates that a match between stress appraisal and emotion-focused coping should be effective. This study examined how the matches between control and coping function proposed in the goodness-of-fit model (Folkman, 1991, 1992) and Compas, et al.’s (1991) model predicted outcomes associated with effective coping (i.e., perceived effectiveness, goal attainment, affect, change in athletic competence, and change in stress level) to gain a better understanding of the process and outcomes of effective coping. One hundred thirty collegiate athletes filled out an online multi-section questionnaire assessing stress appraisal, coping function, control appraisals, and outcome measures. Through hierarchical regression, moderation hypotheses were tested to determine if the process of coping effectiveness, as evidenced by goodness-of-fit (Folkman, 1991, 1992) and Compas, et al.’s (1991) model, resulted in favorable outcomes associated with effective coping. The matches proposed in these models were supported, and consistent with previous literature (Kowalski, Crocker, Hoar & Niefer, 2005). Additionally, the effectiveness outcomes were all significantly correlated with each other in the current study. However, none of the moderation hypotheses were supported, demonstrating that the matches between coping function and appraisals hypothesized in the models are not associated with coping effectiveness outcomes. These findings show that though athletes are coping in a way that is consistent with coping effectiveness process theory, these matches were not sufficient in predicting effectiveness related outcomes. These results should direct future studies to address this disconnect, potentially directing more attention to the importance of control and other appraisals in the understanding of coping effectiveness.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

McDonough, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Psychology|Recreation

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