Abstract
Given that elite athletes experience a wide range of different emotions (e.g., anxiety, anger, dejection, excitement) toward upcoming sporting environments, it is surprising that researchers have given limited attention to the linkages between varied emotional experiences and diverse coping (unaccustomed) among athletes from diverse backgrounds. This study investigated the impact of religious coping, as opposed to conventional psychological skills, to ascertain whether these coping options influence elite student-athletes’ emotional reactions across gender, competitive status, and religion. Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, self-reported discrete emotions and religious coping were measured with the Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ) and Brief-Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE) after 300 selected athletes were conveniently chosen. A factorial multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) after controlling for age revealed no significant interactions for between-subject factors (gender, status, religion) across all the discrete emotions and religious coping dimensions. However, significant main effects were realized for competitive status and religion on only anger, anxiety, dejection, and negative religious coping. A follow-up multiple regression analysis identified religion as the most significant predictor of anger, anxiety, and dejection, whereas competitive status was the most associated variable for negative religious coping. Current findings suggest that athletes’ unpleasant or negative emotions were linked to negative religious coping, a maladaptive coping mechanism that may hinder attaining optimal emotional state prior to competition. Therefore, these athletes need purposeful strategies (e.g., positive religious coping, motivational strategies) that may improve weakened beliefs based on their struggles before competition. The development of appropriate psychological intervention framework that maintains respect for athletes’ religious identities for improved psychological well-being is also warranted.
Highlights
Athletes react to an array of different emotions during their sports involvement, with considerable implications for performance, well-being, and general team climate (e.g., Fletcher et al 2006; Martinent et al 2012, 2013)
The equality of covariance matrices was found to be satisfactory at the univariate level (Levene’s test and Fmax ratios), this assumption was violated in some instances at the multivariate level (Box’s M Test)
Given that the concepts of discrete emotions and religious coping strategies could be best described as a function of different interpersonal factors, the no succinct variations noted across gender in this current study is in line with previous research that reported a similar finding during competition among elite athletes from Ghana (e.g., Hagan et al 2017b)
Summary
Athletes react to an array of different emotions (e.g., happiness, excitement, relief, pride, anger, anxiety, dejection, guilt, and shame) during their sports involvement, with considerable implications for performance, well-being, and general team climate (e.g., Fletcher et al 2006; Martinent et al 2012, 2013). Within a competitive sporting environment, it is common to see many athletes show some emotional reactions such as excitement and happiness during memorable moments. Unpleasant experiences may evoke emotional responses not limited to dejection, sadness, and disappointment and heightened levels of competitive anxiety among athletes (Crocker et al 2004; Jones 2012; Martinent and Ferrand 2009). According to Hanin’s distinction, any emotion regardless of its state (i.e., positive or negative) could provide both a functional and/or a detrimental consequence regarding an athlete’s performance
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