Fear of failure and anxiety in kurash athletes: gender and age differences

Abstract

Purpose: The study’s purpose was to investigate and compare the fear of failure among kurash athletes of different ages and gender on their pre-competition anxiety levels.
 Material and Methods. For this study, a total of 275 athletes (age range between 12-29 years) voluntarily participated and were divided into two age groups. Their mean age was 24.2±3.7 years). To test the anxiety level before the competition, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) was used. Fear of failure among the athletes was measured with the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI). The data were analyzed by SPSS for Windows and expressed as the mean and standard deviation. To test the research hypotheses, the t-tests were used, and P values were set at p<0.05 for all measures.
 Results. The result suggested a strong positive correlation between pre-competition anxiety and fear of failure. Kurash athletes who showed elevated pre-competition anxiety levels also exhibited higher fear of failure. Boys and men kurash players exhibited a higher level of competition anxiety and fear of failure when compared to their female counterparts.
 Conclusions. This study has revealed that male kurash athletes are more vulnerable to anxiety and fear before the competition and has also proved that with age anxiety and fear also grow among the kurash exponents. Hence, the training protocols and programs should incorporate the means and methods to address the athletes suitably so that their performance will be at its best.