The Effects of Imagery on Competitive Anxiety in High School Wrestlers

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to study imagery as an effective tool for decreasing competitive anxiety in high school wrestlers. The investigation was conducted using 27 subjects from a high school wrestling team. The subjects were selected for a treatment or control group by a pretest SCAT score. Both groups consisted of high to low anxiety subjects. The treatment group received an imagery program designed to decrease competitive anxiety. The contact sessions were fifteen minutes in length, culminating into 22 sessions over a nine week period. Both groups were pretested and posttested using the Sport Competitive Anxiety Test (SCAT) (Martens, 1977), and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) (Martens, Vealey, Burton, Bump, & Smith, 1990). Utilizing an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) design, differences in SCAT and each sub-component of the CSAI-2 inventories (Cognitive, Somatic and State Self-confidence) were evaluated. The results showed significant reduction in state anxiety for the treatment group, specifically the cognitive and somatic components. There was a trend developing for improved self-confidence, although it was not statistically significant. The trait anxiety results showed no significant difference between treatment and control groups. The investigation showed that imagery can be an effective tool in decreasing competitive state anxiety.