Confidence and the elite athlete: a qualitative investigation

The purpose of this study was to examine elite athletes' experiences of confidence in sport. A qualitative research approach consisting of a semi-structured, in-depth interview format was used in order to meet the intended goal of obtaining athletes experiences of both high and low levels of confidence as well as those influences that might affect confidence in competitive situations. Interviews were conducted with eight elite athletes from eight different sports. An inductive content analysis of the interview data identified a broad range of internal and external influences on sport confidence as well as the utilization of multiple strategies for building and maintaining confidence. The Results of the study also suggest that sport confidence is multi-dimensional in nature,consisting of mental, emotional, perceptual, and behavioral components.