Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the stress, emotion, and coping (SEC) experiences of elite cricketers leading up to and on the day of their first competitive fixture of the season. Four elite male cricketers (M = 21.25, SD = 1.5) completed Stress and Emotion Diaries (SEDs) for the 7-day period leading up to and on the day of their first competitive fixture of the season. We then interviewed the cricketers to explore the content of the SEDs in more detail. We used semistructured interviews to glean insight into the stressors, cognitions, emotions, coping strategies, and behaviors. Inductive and deductive content data analysis provided a holistic and temporal exploration of the SEC process underpinned by the cognitive-motivational-relational theory of emotions (Lazarus, 1999). The results highlighted the ongoing and continuous nature of the SEC process while illustrating the coping strategies the cricketers used leading up to and on the day of competition.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to explore the stress, emotion, and coping (SEC) experiences of elite cricketers leading up to and on the day of their first competitive fixture of the season
The data we collected highlights the types of stressors and subsequent cognitive, emotional, coping, and behavioral responses that elite cricketers experienced throughout the 7-day precompetition period and on the day of their first competitive fixture of the season
This study adds to the extant literature by becoming the first to provide a holistic and temporal exploration of the SEC process underpinned by the CMR theory of emotions (Lazarus, 1999)
Summary
The purpose of this study was to explore the stress, emotion, and coping (SEC) experiences of elite cricketers leading up to and on the day of their first competitive fixture of the season. If an individual does not believe they have the resources to deal with the demands encountered in the competition environment, he or she will perceive the situation as threatening or harmful and experience negative emotions such as anxiety and anger This affective response may be associated with negative behavior (e.g., physical tension) and performance (e.g., skill breakdown). Weston and colleagues (2009) examined the stressors and the coping strategies used by five elite single-handed sailors They highlighted a variety of competitive, organizational, and personal stressors that were regulated through a number of coping responses (e.g., problem-, emotion-, appraisal-, and approach-focused coping). Data highlighted the use of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies to deal with the negative appraisals and associated emotions, a process that enabled better decision-making
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