Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1992

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Human Performance and Sport Studies

Major Professor

Patricia A. Beitel

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to have subelite endurance athletes complete Mahoney's Psychological Skills Inventory for Sport, PSIS (1991), Carmack and Martens' Commitment to Running Scale, CR (1979), and an Athlete Perceptions scale, AP, designed as a part of the investigation to determine if there were: (a) certain factors that endurance athletes perceived as affecting agents, and/or (b) specific psychological or socialpsychological characteristics of subelite endurance athletes. The study also searched for gender differences in the ways subelite athletes adapted to the endurance-related sport task. Subjects for the study were 11 female and 14 male endurance athletes. Track (n = 11), swimming (n = 6), and cycling (n = 4) athletes were from one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I institution. Triathletes (n = 4) from the same area were also included, but they did not necessarily attend the university during the time of the study. The athletes were analyzed for tendencies which may be found to characterize the subelite endurance athlete by gender. The PSIS measured athletes for degree of tendency to have: anxiety, confidence, concentration skill, mental preparation habits, team emphasis, and motivation. The CS measured athletes' commitment to and enjoyment of their sport. Tendencies to associate or disassociate were measured by using three questions on the AP questionnaire. Crosstabulations compared genders in terms of associativity/dissociativity and in relation to specific factors of the PSIS. Amount of hardship experienced by athletes was assessed through analysis of AP questions. Satisfaction with specific sport experience was measured in relation to demographic background experience through crosstabulations which were run on AP questions. The results of the data suggested: (a) gender differences existed in anxiety and team emphasis skills based on PSIS factor scores, (b) the subelite endurance athletes predominantly seemed to perceive themselves as enjoying their sport and the pain involved with the endurance sport, yet able to limit that pain when necessary, (c) most athletes perceived hardship as contributing to their performance capabilities, but only a low percentage indicated that they had actually undergone hardship in their past, (d) the subelite endurance athletes were characterized by approaching performance both psychologically and physiologically confident, and (e) most of the subelite endurance athletes in this study used associative strategies of coping with pain involved with their sport

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