Volleyball Players Pre-Competitive Anxiety: Sex-Based Differences and Relationship with Sport Characteristics

Background. The issue of pre-competition anxiety is multidimensional and there is still a lack of complex studies in multiple sports as well as in volleyball analysing the relationships of pre-competitive anxiety with multiple correlates. Methods. The research participants were male and female volleyball players from fore Lithuanian teams. The questionnaires were completed by 37 athletes (51.4% females) aged between 20 and 41 years (median age 23.0 years). Questions about Competitive State Anxiety (CSAI-2), socio-demographic and sport characteristics were answered 40 minutes before the pre-competition warm-up. Results. The level of female and male pre-competition anxiety components was similar (p > 0.05). Direct associations were found between cognitive and somatic anxiety in both sex groups (p < 0.001). In the female group, cognitive anxiety was higher compared to somatic anxiety (p < 0.05). In the male subgroup cognitive anxiety was directly associated with age (p < 0.05). Relationships with sport characteristics (N=37): the level of cognitive anxiety was directly related to the number of years of playing volleyball (p < 0.05); volleyball players who reported having sufficient knowledge to manage competitive anxiety had lower levels of cognitive anxiety (p < 0.05), and lower self-confidence (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The research data may help to better understand the manifestation of volleyball players’ pre-competitive anxiety in sex groups and the relationship with sport characteristics. On the basis of this data, specialists will be able to formulate and test hypotheses of further research as well as select areas of preventive and educational work. Keywords: volleyball, cognitive and somatic anxiety, self-confidence, gender groups, sport characteristics.