Sense of efficiency and helplessness, fear and styles of coping with stress in adolescents practicing sports

Abstract

Introduction. Sense of efficacy is one of the important predictors of an athlete's efficiency [1]. The aim of the study was to show whether there is a relationship between the level of sense of efficacy vs. the sense of helplessness in girls and boys undertaking sports and level of anxiety (cognitive and somatic) as well as the dominant styles of coping with stress. Procedures. The study comprised 222 individuals - students of sport high-schools from the Małopolskie and Śląskie voivodeships (108 girls, average age =17.52 years and 114 boys, average age =18.47 years). The Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and World AttitudesQuestionnaire [Kwestionariusz Nastawień Intrapersonalnych, Interpersonalnych i Nastawień wobec Świata (KNIIŚ)] created by Ewa Wysocka was used [2] - the "Sense of efficacy" and "Sense of helplessness" scale (version for high-school students); Endler and Parker's "Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS)" in the Polish adaptation by Szczepaniak, Strelau, Wrześniewski [3] and "Reactions to Competition" by Smith, Smoll, Schutz in the Polish adaptation by Krawczyński, were also implemented [4]. Results. It has been shown in the research that respondents are dominated by a sense of efficacy over helplessness, a task-oriented style of coping with stress, and somatic fear before a start. In addition, it was found that there is a relationship between sense of efficacy and sense of helplessness with somatic anxiety that is moderated by sex, as well as a relationship between the sense of helplessness and the level of distraction, and a relationship between the sense of helplessness and the level of worrying that is also moderated by gender. Also observed was a correlation between the style of coping consisting in seeking social contacts with sense of helplessness among the surveyed girls. Conclusions. A practical postulate arises regarding strengthening sense of efficacy, especially among female competitors.