Anxiety

Anxiety Overview

• Definition: A state of apprehension, worry, uneasiness, or eagerness.

Types of Anxiety

• State Anxiety: Temporary anxiety related to a specific situation.

• Trait Anxiety: General tendency of a person to perceive situations as threatening; stable and enduring.

Responses to Anxiety

• Somatic Responses: Physical symptoms (e.g., increased heart rate, blood pressure).

• Cognitive Responses: Worries about performance and abilities.

Competitive Anxiety

• Tension and feelings of inadequacy during competition.

Anxiety Theories

• Multidimensional Theory (Martens, 1990): Somatic and cognitive anxiety impact performance differently; cognitive anxiety typically decreases performance, while low levels of somatic anxiety can enhance focus.

• Reversal Theory (Apter, 1982): Perception of arousal as positive/negative affects performance; positive arousal can enhance performance while negative arousal can hinder it.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

• Cognitive: Indecision, confusion, negative thoughts.

• Somatic: Increased blood pressure, heart rate, sweating.

• Behavioral: Biting nails, lethargy, avoidance of eye contact.

Consequences of Stress and Anxiety

• Positive Impacts: Enhanced performance through increased motivation, energy, focus, and confidence.

• Negative Impacts: Reduced confidence, poor performance, physical injuries, and aggressive behavior.