Pre-competitive anxiety in padel: the role of sex and competitive level
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v83.119592Keywords:
athletic performance, pre-competitive anxiety, sport psychology, competitive level, SAS-2Abstract
Introduction: Padel is an intermittent racket sport characterised by physical, technical-tactical, and psychological demands. Competitive anxiety may affect performance and well-being.
Objective: This study aimed to analyse pre-competitive anxiety in padel players according to sex and competitive level.
Methodology: The sample comprised 136 players, including 68 men and 68 women, classified as professionals (n = 20) or amateurs (n = 116). The Sport Anxiety Scale-2 was used to assess somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption. Descriptive statistics and two-way analyses of variance examining sex, competitive level, and their interaction were conducted, with significance set at p < .05.
Results: No significant sex-by-level interaction was observed for any anxiety dimension. Somatic anxiety did not differ significantly according to sex or competitive level. Worry was significantly higher in women than in men (mean difference = 3.21 points; p < .001) and in amateurs than in professionals (mean difference = 2.17 points; p = .015). Concentration disruption was also higher in women (mean difference = 1.93 points; p = .005) and amateurs (mean difference = 1.85 points; p = .007). Amateur women recorded the highest concentration disruption score (10.6 ± 3.3 points), whereas professional women also showed elevated worry (13.9 ± 3.4 points). Items concerning poor performance received the highest ratings, while somatic symptoms received the lowest.
Conclusion: These findings are consistent with greater cognitive and attentional involvement than somatic expression in pre-competitive anxiety. Psychological preparation should be tailored to players’ needs, particularly women and amateurs.
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