The difference between type A/B personality on self-efficacy and trait/state anxiety in track and field athletes.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine if Type A track and field athletes differ from Type B track and field athletes on state anxiety (A-state), trait anxiety (A-trait) and self-efficacy under varying competitive situations. A sub-problem in the study was to determine if there was a relationship between A-state and self-efficacy. A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine if interactions exist between competitive situations and personality type for track and field athletes on dependent measures of A-state and self-efficacy. An additional MANOVA was used to examine differences in personality type for track and field athletes self-confidence levels under varying competitive situations. Differences in Atrait for Type A and Type B track and field athletes were examined using a t-test. A Pearson Product Correlation was used to determine if a linear relationship between Astate and self-efficacy exists. Varsity track and field athletes from Emporia State University served as participants (N = 43). Athletes were assessed for Type A and Type B personality traits by the Modified Jenkins Activity Survey (mJAS). Levels of A-trait were obtained from the Sport Competitive Anxiety Test (SCAT). Cognitive and somatic A-state were assessed by the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) at three indoor track and field meets. Physical self-efficacy scores were obtained from the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE) at the same three indoor track and field meets. All questionnaires were distributed to athletes one hour prior to their first event at each respective meet. A significant difference, F(3,22) = 3.86, p = .02, was found to exist across dependent sessions for physical self-efficacy scores. The effects for interaction between personality type and dependent sessions were not significant for physical self-efficacy scores, F(3,22) = 0.69, Q> .05. The effects for interaction between personality type and cognitive A-state, F(3,22) = 2.45, Q> .05, and personality type and somatic Astate, F(3,22) = 2.52, p> .05, were also not significant. Correlational analysis revealed no significant linear relationship between cognitive A-state and physical self-efficacy, r = -.26, J2 > .05, or between somatic A-state and physical self-efficacy, r = -.18, p> .05. An additional repeated measures MANOVA showed the interaction between personality type. and self-confidence, F(3,22) = 1.50, p > .05, was not significant. Finally, at-test analysis revealed no significant differences in A-trait between personality types, t = 1.39, p> .05.