Abstract
Guilt and shame are self-conscious emotions with implications for mental health, social and occupational functioning, and the effectiveness of sports practice. To date, the assessment and role of athlete-specific guilt and shame has been under-researched. Reporting data from 174 junior elite cricketers (M = 17.34 years; females n = 85), the present study utilized exploratory factor analysis in validating the Athletic Perceptions of Performance Scale (APPS), assessing three distinct and statistically reliable factors: athletic shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and no-concern. Conditional process analysis indicated that APPS shame-proneness mediated the relationship between general and athlete-specific distress (p < 0.01), with this pathway non-contingent on sex or past 12-month help-seeking for mental health concerns (p's > 0.05). While APPS domains of guilt-proneness and no-concern were not significant mediators, they exhibited correlations in the expected direction with indices of psychological distress and well-being. The APPS may assist coaches and support staff identify players who may benefit from targeted interventions to reduce the likelihood of experiencing shame-prone states.
Highlights
The ways in which athletes appraise their performance and the associated self-attributions can influence perceptions of athletic success or achievement, and the perceived need for reparative action where performance is viewed as suboptimal
Where necessary ameliorating problematic athletic self-perception — especially in relation to negative self-conscious emotions — is likely to be an important aspect of facilitating domains of competence, confidence, connection and character that contribute to athlete well-being and performance
Distinct factors were validated for the Athletic Perceptions of Performance Scale (APPS) Shame- and Guilt-proneness subscales, in addition to a distinct no-concern factor, which was negatively associated with both
Summary
The ways in which athletes appraise their performance and the associated self-attributions can influence perceptions of athletic success or achievement, and the perceived need for reparative action where performance is viewed as suboptimal (e.g., below their known ability level). Where necessary ameliorating problematic athletic self-perception — especially in relation to negative self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame and guilt) — is likely to be an important aspect of facilitating domains of competence, confidence, connection and character that contribute to athlete well-being and performance. Shame and guilt are negative affective experiences that tend to occur following a performance-related failure, or a behavioral transgression, that is perceived as inappropriate, morally wrong, or below internally (or externally) prescribed standards (Tangney, 1991). Though shame and guilt are commonly experienced emotions, they are often (mistakenly) referred to interchangeably Theorists distinguish these affective states based on the focal point of one’s negative evaluation (Lewis, 1971; Tangney et al, 1996). Guilt is an empathy triggering other-oriented emotional process, in that the individual is acutely aware how their behavior adversely impacts others (e.g., “I’ve let my team down”; Treeby et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
