Stress Inoculation Training (SIT)

Abstract

A number of coping skills reflect the central role of cognition in determining a person's response to events, especially under high levels of stress and anxiety, and especially in the service of maintaining and improving performance levels during competition. One cognitive-behavioural intervention package, which draws on these coping skills, is stress inoculation training (SIT) developed by Donald Meichenbaum. In SIT, coping skills are practised in low stress situations before transferring them to high stress situations. Specifically, SIT consists of three overlapping stages: conceptualisation/education, skill acquisition, and transfer/application. In this chapter, research employing SIT in sport settings is summarised and the application of SIT to sport settings is outlined. Next a hypothetical case study of an athlete who is unable to perform to her potential under stress is outlined. In this case study, SIT is employed as an intervention and the three stages of SIT are outlined. The chapter concludes with an overview of practical considerations when applying SIT in sport, contextual factors that influence its effectiveness, and considerations for further research.