Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Research Articles

Determining confidence and anxiety of Australian community podiatrists in managing foot ulceration: A cross-sectional study.

Diabetes related foot ulcer (DFU) is a leading cause of impaired quality of life, disability, hospitalisation, amputation and mortality in people with diabetes. It is therefore critical that podiatrists across all settings, including community settings, are confident and capable of providing care for diabetes-related foot complications. This study aims to describe current practice, confidence and anxiety levels of community podiatrists in the management of patients with foot ulceration. Furthermore, current barriers to service provision and interest in future educational opportunities will also be explored. An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to Australian community podiatrists. Descriptive variables including gender, age, professional experience, practice location and practise setting were elicited. A modified competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) was utilised to measure anxiety related to managing a foot ulcer. Other questions included a combination of multiple choice and open-ended free-text responses relating to assessment, confidence and referral pathways. One hundred and twenty-two Australian community-based podiatrists responded to the survey. A variety of ulcer sizes and complexity were reported to be managed in community settings. Confidence in DFU management was high in most manual skill domains including: stabilisation of the foot (85.7%, standard deviation [SD] 17.42), scalpel control (83.0%, SD 20.02), debridement with a scalpel (82.7%, SD 18.19) and aseptic technique (81.0%, SD 18.62, maintaining integrity of healthy tissue (77.3%, SD 21.11), removal of appropriate tissue (75.6%, SD 22.53), depth of ulceration (73.7%, SD 23.99) and ability to manage messy wounds (69.1%, SD 26.04). Curette debridement had substantially lower levels of reported confidence (41.0%, SD 34.24). Performance anxiety was low with somatic and cognitive anxiety of 6/24 and 3/8 on the CSAI-2, respectively. Community podiatrists are managing foot ulcers of varying size and complexity. Confidence and anxiety do not pose a barrier to care. Adherence to wound assessment clinical guidelines is low and confidence with the use of curette was sub-optimal. Further educational programs may overcome these barriers and support shared models of care between community and acute podiatry services.

Motivation Profiles, Perceived Motivational Climate, Coping Perceptions and Anxiety Among Elite Young Ice Hockey Players

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sports motivation and several sports psychological variables (Perceived Motivational Climate, Coping Perceptions and Anxiety). The data were collected from Hungarian ice hockey players (n = 293) playing in the Hungarian hockey academy system, using the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2) and the Athletic Coping Skill Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) of Smith et al. (1995) and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) of Martens et al. (1990). The analysis revealed four significantly different individual sports motivation profiles, and these differed significantly in terms of athletes’ anxiety, coping, and perceived motivational climate. In addition, the research highlighted the importance of diagnosing and addressing amotivation to improve overall sports performance, self-confidence, and coping skills when facing adversity. Limitations and further research directions are also considered.

An analysis of Indonesian student-level boxing athletes: What Effect Does Competition Anxiety Have on Self-Efficacy?

This study aims to analyze the effect of self-efficacy on competition anxiety in boxing athletes at the student level. The sample consists of boxing athletes in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province and South Kalimantan Province, with 130 athletes (95 male, 35 female) who will compete at the Regional Student Sports Week in 2024. The characteristics of the boxers were aged 15-18, had 3.1±0.7 years of training experience, have a minimum 8.7±4.2 and maximum 10.3±2.2 hours of training in a week. Self-efficacy instrument used Endurance Sport Self-Efficacy Scale (ESSES) questionnaire, and competition anxiety used Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) questionnaire. This study showed a significant negative effect between self-efficacy and anxiety to compete in boxing athletes (t -7.870 and p<0.05) and R2, which is 38.1%. It can be concluded that the direction of negative correlation means that if the self-efficacy of athletes is high, the anxiety of athletes before the match is low. Athletes are expected to always believe in their ability to perform at their best when competing. Future research needs to investigate how psychological interventions can influence the interpretation of the direction of anxiety symptoms among boxing athletes. Keywords: Self-efficacy, competition anxiety, boxing

A study on the impact of systematic desensitization training on competitive anxiety among Latin dance athletes.

In the domain of competitive events, Latin dance athletes have always suffered competitive anxiety, which is a prevalent and prevailing psychological facet, in pre-, intra-, and post-competitive engagements. Usually, the implementation of systematic desensitization training is an efficacious approach to reduce competitive anxiety levels in routine sports to fortify psychological resilience of athletes (like swimming, volleyball, and basketball). This study focuses on the effect of systematic desensitization training on competition anxiety in the training of Latin dancers to establish good mental ability and promote the competitive ability of athletes. The "Sports Competition Anxiety Test Questionnaire" was used to evaluate and classify the competitive anxiety levels of 150 Latin dance athletes. Then, the top 48 participants were selected (24 in the intervention cohort and 24 in the non-intervention cohort) as the study participants after stratifying anxiety score levels from the highest to the lowest. The intervention group was treated with an 8-week psychological intervention by employing systematic desensitization training techniques (encompassing imagery desensitization and in vivo desensitization). The anxiety levels of the subjects were quantified by employing the "Sport Competition Trait Anxiety Inventory" (CCTAI-C) and the "Competitive State Anxiety Inventory" (CSAI-2) to scrutinize the efficacy of systematic desensitization training in regulating competitive anxiety levels among Latin dance athletes. After applying systematic desensitization training, the intervention group displayed a notable reduction in sport cognitive trait anxiety. Specifically, there was a decrease of 29.37% in social evaluation anxiety, 20.31% in competition preparation anxiety, 16.98% in performance anxiety, 25.16% in failure anxiety, 34.47% in opponent's ability anxiety, and 25.16% in injury anxiety. Moreover, for competitive state anxiety, cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety decreased by 39.19 and 21.43%. The state self-confidence increased by 14.42%. The result indicated that systematic desensitization training not only mitigates anxiety but also positively intervenes in sports-related anxiety. Moreover, systematic desensitization training can significantly diminish competitive anxiety among Latin dance athletes to bolster confidence during competitions. Integrating desensitization training into the regular regimen of Latin dance practice has the potential to fortify dancers' psychological resilience against anxiety.

Position and ranking influence in padel: somatic anxiety and self-confidence increase in competition for left-side and higher-ranked players when compared to pressure training.

This study aimed to analyze the differences in the precompetitive anxiety and self-confidence according to the side of play, the ranking and the match outcome, under different competitive scenarios, in high level men's padel players from Finland who trained under pressure prior to the competition. 10 men's padel players (28.60 (4.17) years old) from the highest category participated in the research. The CSAI-2R (Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised) and STAI-S (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State) questionnaires were used and descriptive and inferential analyzes were performed, including Mann-Whitney's U tests. The findings illuminate that, across the player spectrum, somatic anxiety and self-confidence levels are higher before competition compared to training matches. This trend holds true for left-side, higher-ranked and match winning players. Even lower-ranked players exhibit heightened self-confidence preceding competitions. These insights offer valuable considerations for players, coaches, and sports psychologists, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between pressure training, competition, and the athlete's psychological landscape.

NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AMONG ATHLETES WITH DIFFERENT SPORTS EXPERIENCES: A META-ANALYSIS

An athlete’s sporting experience is a factor associated with better-coping strategies and emotional regulation, especially concerning competitive anxiety and its symptoms. To verify whether more experienced athletes have lower rates of negativism and higher levels of self-confidence, we compared the means of these two variables between athletes with more and less experience. A meta-analysis was performed, following the PRISMA model. Seven articles were selected that measured, through the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory – 2 (CSAI-2 or its shortened version, CSAI-2R), the levels of self-confidence and negativism of high-performance athletes with different sports experiences. Significant statistical differences were found regarding the levels of negativism between athletes with more and less experience (p < .001). The same occurred with the levels of self-confidence between athletes with more and less sports experience (< .001). The results align with our initial hypothesis, formulated by Martens et al. (1990), that athletes with more experience would have higher self-confidence and lower negativism averages. One of the reasons may be using more effective coping strategies that are improved during the career years.

Knowledge of Results About More Accurate Versus Less Accurate Trials: Differential Effects on Psychological Variables and Motor Learning in Adolescent Females

Abstract Introduction. The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate whether providing knowledge of results (KR) on more accurate trials enhanced motivation and self-confidence or whether providing KR on less accurate trials reduced those variables. We also investigated whether anxiety was affected by the provision of feedback. Material and Methods. Participants performed a volleyball serve over four days of practice under one of two conditions: After each block of six trials, one group received feedback on the three most accurate (MA) trials, whereas the other group received feedback on the three least accurate (LA) trials. One week following practice, participants performed a retention test without feedback. Participants also completed the intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI) and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI2). Results. Results indicated that the MA group had more effective learning as well as higher motivation and self-confidence scores than the LA group. Additionally, the MA group had lower scores on cognitive and somatic anxiety compared to the LA group. The MA group had higher motivation and self-confidence scores and lower anxiety compared to the values reported on the pre-test. Conversely, the LA group had lower motivation and self-confidence scores relative to the pre-test values, and tended to have increased cognitive and somatic anxiety following practice. Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate that providing augmented feedback about more accurate trials facilitates motor learning and increases motivation and self-confidence whilst lowering levels of somatic anxiety.

Importance of mental health in the sports environment

The objectives of this study are focused, firstly, on understanding the levels of cognitive anxiety, self-confidence, and pre- and post-match somatic anxiety. Secondly, to analyse the impact of the match outcome (win-loss) on the mentioned dimensions according to the Home-Away condition. The research involved 70 volleyball players (28 home and 42 away) belonging to cadet categories from different volleyball teams competing in the School Sports Program in the province of Araba, specifically in the city of Vitoria Gasteiz. Participants completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory in Sport (CSAI-2) (Martens et al., 1990), consisting of 27 items, adapted and validated in Spanish by Capdevila (1997), and subsequently reviewed and used by other researchers (Arruza et al., 2001; Telletxea, 2008). The results show that somatic anxiety significantly decreased between pre and post-match in the home condition, and there are significant differences between home players and away players in response to a victory outcome. The ability of coaches, monitors, and fitness trainers to understand and address athletes' anxiety states is crucial for optimizing their performance and overall well-being, as well as adherence to physical activity.

Relationship between frequency of use of psychological skills and competitive anxiety in elite athletes

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of frequency of use of psychological skills (relaxation, emotional control, automatization, goal setting, imagery, self-talk, negative thoughts, and activation) on somatic and cognitive anxieties, as well as self-confidence in competitive elite athletes. The study employed a cross-sectional, relational, and ex post facto design. The non-probabilistic, intentional sample consisted of 64 competitive elite athletes with a mean age of 25.70 (SD = 4.53), participating in various sports disciplines. The Brazilian versions of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and the Test of Performance Strategies-2 were administered in the week preceding the competitions. Significant effects of frequency of use were observed for relaxation, automatization, and imagery on cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety. Conversely, frequency of use in negative thoughts and emotional control demonstrated significant effects on both cognitive and somatic anxieties, as well as self-confidence. Additionally, the frequency of use in goal setting and activation showed a significant effect solely on self-confidence. These findings are of utmost importance to Sports Psychology in Brazil, suggesting that the frequency of utilizing psychological skills may influence competitive anxiety.

Intervenções cognitivo-comportamentais para depressão na adolescência: uma revisão sistemática

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os principais achados reportados por pesquisas desenvolvidas na última década acerca de intervenções de TCC em grupo para o tratamento da depressão em adolescentes. Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura por meio das bases de dados PubMed, PsychoINFO e BVS-Brasil, no período de 17 a 20 de junho de 2023. Após a análise dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, um total de 11 artigos completos constituíram a amostra final. Técnicas terapêuticas como a reestruturação cognitiva, a psicoeducação e a regulação emocional demonstraram ser importantes para a redução ou remissão de sintomas depressivos em adolescentes. Além disso, novos programas incluindo o suporte colaborativo de professores também parecerem ser efetivos quando trazendo o TCC para adolescentes com depressão. Conclui-se que, em comparação com outros tratamentos terapêuticos ou farmacológicos, as intervenções em TCC, frequentemente, apresentam potencial benéfico para o tratamento da depressão em adolescentes.

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback and Cognitive Restructuring for Self-Regulation: A Case Study

This study investigated the effects of a psychophysiological intervention programmed, comprising heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BFB) and cognitive restructuring (CR), on the self-regulation skills of an 18-year-old female squash athlete who represents the Korean national team. The participant underwent ten programme sessions in a laboratory. HRV was measured during a 10-minute baseline period of natural breathing and during BFB-guided breathing exercises. Two questionnaires, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), were used to assess the participant's psychological state. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze changes in HRV and psychological state from the initial test to the post-test. Qualitative findings indicated improvements in the participant's self-regulation skills, particularly in her ability to transform negative thoughts. In conclusion, the intervention programme shows potential in enhancing self-regulation skills to the athlete. The combination of HRV biofeedback and cognitive restructuring appears to lead to positive changes in self-regulation, which could benefit athletes in managing their psychological state and improving competitive performance. Further research and practical applications are continued needed to fully explore the programme's efficacy.

Analysis of the Sports Psychological Profile, Competitive Anxiety, Self-Confidence and Flow State in Young Football Players.

The objective of this study was to analyse the correlations among the sports psychological profile, competitive anxiety, self-confidence and the flow state of young football players. Additionally, potential distinctions based on age category, competitive level and field position were explored. This study included 328 participants divided into two groups: Group 1, 14-15 year olds, and Group 2, 16-18 year olds (M = 15.85; SD = 1.44). Data were collected by using the Psychological Inventory of Sports Execution (IPED), the Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2R) and the Flow State Scale (FSS). The findings revealed positive associations between the sports psychological profile and self-confidence, as well as with the flow state. Conversely, competitive anxiety demonstrated negative relationships with the sports psychological profile, self-confidence and the state of flow. Moreover, superior scores were observed in the analysed variables for the older age category and higher competitive level, with no notable disparities based on field positions. These results underscore the interplay of psychological factors in the performance of football players and underline distinctions among players according to their category (age and level). This emphasises the importance of scrutinising these variables in athletes to comprehend their profiles and enable targeted interventions aimed at enhancing their psychological resources for competitive scenarios.

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

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.

Positive psychological effects of seated acupressure massage are associated with a rise in plasma oxytocin without affecting CGRP levels or circulating IL-6

Work-related stress is a major public health issue. Given the relationship between acute stress responses and health, finding strategies to deal with the unpleasant symptoms brought on by stress is essential. Massage therapy is a popular stress-reduction technique, but its effectiveness has yet to be shown. In that matter, this study investigates the effects of a 17-minute session of seated Amma massage on young healthy people. Subjective stress perception, anxiety and self-confidence were assessed before and after the massage using the Spielberger State Anxiety Scale (STAI-Y, Spielberger et al., 1983) and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (EEAC, Cury et al., 1999), together with cardiovascular parameters. Cortisol, CGRP, IL-6, and oxytocin plasma levels were measured before and after the massage to investigate its possible mode of action. This study enrolled 59 people: 33 receiving the massage, and 26 controls only seated on the massage chair.Interaction Time x Group demonstrates significant differences for all psychological measurements (STAI, EEAC) before and after the Amma massage, showing a beneficial effect of this treatment, in particular on perceived anxiety and self-confidence. No evidence was found of any correlation between cortisol plasma levels and psychological outcomes. No relationship was shown between the decrease of perceived stress and measured CGRP or IL-6 release, but the data demonstrated that heart frequency could be slightly decreased. The oxytocin plasma levels were significantly increased by the massage and could be responsible for the recovery of psychological outcomes.We conclude that seated acupressure Amma massage could be a useful tool to ameliorate quality of life at work.

Precompetitive anxiety and self-confidence during the 2023 Finnish Padel championship in high level men's players.

The aim of the current study was to assess precompetitive anxiety and self-confidence in high level men's padel players from Finland. Twenty eight men's padel players from the highest category participated in the research (87.5% of the target population). The CSAI-2R (Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised) and STAI-S (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State) questionnaires were used and descriptive and inferential analyzes were performed, including the Kruskal Wallis's H and Mann-Whitney's U tests. The results show that seeded players presented lower levels of cognitive anxiety (η2 = 0.111). Moreover, losers of first round presented more state anxiety than winners (η2 = 0.302). Before the first match, state anxiety was higher than prior to the second match (η2 = 0.148). Furthermore, lower ranked players of first round, compared to second, presented more state anxiety and somatic anxiety (η2 = 0.487 and η2 = 0.277, respectively). However, according to the results obtained, self-confidence was not affected by any of the variables analyzed (ranking, seed, result or round). These findings may be of great interest to players, coaches and sports psychologists, as they allow an enhanced comprehension of the player's level of anxiety and self-confidence.

Youth Basketball Athlete’s Anxiety When Competing Based on Gender

The study's goal is to find out how athlete worry affects teenage basketball players based on their gender. Quantitative random selection is used in this study method. A lift is used for the tools in this work. Angket is a way to receive data that is done through g from distribution. Angket used the CSAI-2R, which stands for the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory. A tool called CSAI-2R can be used to find out how anxious an athlete is during a race. The statistics software SPSS version 26 was used to look at the data for this study. According to the study's results, there were no significant changes in anxiety levels between male and female athletes. This meant that neither male nor female athletes were more likely to have the anxiety levels that teenage basketball players do.

Sex differences in mood, hormone and immune response to combatives training in West Point Cadets

Hand-to-hand combat training, known as combatives, instructs Soldiers in close-quarters combat techniques and how to cope with stress, understand controlled physical aggression, and develop self-confidence when engaged in such activities. Limited research in combat sports suggests men and women may respond to combatives stress differently. Given the increasing integration of women into close combat roles in the military, investigation of sex differences in the physiological and psychological response to combatives among military-trained personnel is warranted. PurposeThis study was designed to identify sex differences in stress and gonadal hormones, mucosal immunity, and mood states in a military combatives training course. MethodsU.S. Military Academy Cadets (men = 144, women = 37) enrolled in a 2-month Combat Applications Course at West Point completed the Profile of Mood States and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and provided salivary samples at baseline prior to the course, and immediately prior to their midterm and final combat matches. Combat matches were gender- and weight-matched. Additional salivary samples were collected immediately following the first midterm and final matches. Salivary cortisol, testosterone, secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and estradiol (women only) were measured via immunoassay. Men and women were compared over time with linear mixed effects models. ResultsIn both men and women, confusion, tension, anger, cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence increased throughout the course whereas friendliness and SIgA secretion rate decreased (all p < 0.05). Compared to women, men had a greater acute increase in cortisol from pre- to post-match (p = 0.043). Prior to the final match, women displayed higher ratings of tension (20.5 ± 9.3 vs. 16.0 ± 8.6) and cortisol (0.6 ± 0.3 vs. 0.4 ± 0.3 µg/dL) than men (all p < 0.05). After controlling for previous combative experience, ratings of tension did not differ by sex but remained elevated prior to midterm and final compared to baseline. ConclusionCombatives training elicited significant psychological and physiological stress and decreased mucosal immunity in both men and women. Women exhibited higher tension at the final match, likely due to lack of previous combative experience. Self-confidence increased from baseline suggesting that the skills learned may help Cadets prepare for combatives and other activities that require controlled aggression.

The Impact of a Psychological Skills Training and Mindfulness-Based Intervention on the Mental Toughness, Competitive Anxiety, and Coping Skills of Futsal Players-A Longitudinal Convergent Mixed-Methods Design.

Despite the sport's popularity, there is a paucity in futsal psychological interventional research. This study analysed the impact of a ten-session psychological skills training and mindfulness-based intervention (PSTMI) on the mental toughness, competitive anxiety, and athletic coping skills of national league futsal players (n = 13). It also analysed whether these variables were predicted by playing experience. Pre-/post-intervention questionnaires were filled in and analysed (Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire, and Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28). Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with seven athletes; quantitative and qualitative data were integrated in a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Results revealed significant medium-to-large improvements in mental toughness, cognitive anxiety, and coping skills following the PSTMI. Years of playing experience positively and significantly predicted better self-confidence and coping skills. Thematic analysis generated five themes: (1) post-intervention enhancement in athletic performance and well-being; (2) the non-athletic commitments of futsal players; (3) diverse views on how to improve the intervention; (4) instilling social identity through sport psychology sessions; and (5) the impact of years of experience on skill learning. Results mirrored those from other sporting disciplines. The PSTMI was well-received and equipped athletes with beneficial psychological skills, stressing the need for more sport psychology resources in futsal.

Fear of falling in women: A psychological training intervention improves climbing performance

ABSTRACTThe main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a psychological training intervention based on emotional regulation on anxiety and climbing ability in women climbers with fear of falling. A secondary aim was to compare the outcomes of climbing ability, anxiety, self-confidence and interoceptive awareness (IA) between the psychological group (PG), a training (TG) and a control group. Self-reported climbing ability, anxiety and IA were assessed using Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire. Results indicated a significant improvement in climbing ability for both PG and TG. The PG showed a significant reduction in cognitive and somatic anxiety, while the TG only exhibited a reduction in cognitive anxiety. Moreover, the PG demonstrated a greater significant increase in self-confidence compared to the TG. IA improved in five subscales for the PG, whereas the TG changed in only two subscales. In conclusion, a psychological training intervention focusing on emotional regulation might contribute to improvements in IA, reduced anxiety levels, and enhancements in climbing ability and self-confidence among women climbers facing fear of falling.

The relationship between locus of control and pre-competitive anxiety in highly trained soccer players.

Previous studies have not considered the potential association between locus of control and precompetitive anxiety in elite soccer players. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study examined The prediction of locus of control on precompetitive anxiety in highly trained cadet soccer players. Based on a literature review, our research question was: can the locus of control be considered as an explanatory element of precompetitive anxiety? Thirty-five Tunisian highly trained soccer players licensed from two regional soccer clubs aged between 15 and 16 years participated in the resent study. All participants were evaluated using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. The relationship between measures of anxiety, self-confidence and the locus of control scores were analyzed using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient. Further, multiple linear stepwise multiple regression models were calculated to determine the most robust predictors of the locus of control. Based on our findings, the regression analysis explains up to 21.3% of the total variation of our independent variable (locus of control) and explains only 21.3% of the variability of our dependent variable somatic anxiety. Furthermore, locus of control explains 61.9% of the variability in self-confidence. The locus of control can be used for the detection and selection of young athletic talent to identify individuals with the best psychological aptitude to cope with psychological problems related to sports performance. Preparing highly trained soccer players on how to deal with their anxiety could prevent them from becoming overwhelmed when they feel powerless to change their situation during competition.