Psychological characteristics of pre-match competitive Tai Chi athletes

Background: The aims were to investigate and compare the pre-match psychological characteristics in both genders and three levels of competitive Tai Chi athletes. Methods: They were 40 competitive Tai Chi athletes (20 males and 20 Females), aged 19-24 years old at the school of physical education of Zhengzhou university, China. Results: There was no significant difference in the pre- match psychological characteristics between genders. The study found that the high-level competitive Tai Chi athletes were better than the low level of Tai Chi athletes in each dimension of the questionnaire, and there were significant differences in the five-factor mindfulness questionnaire, contest anxiety questionnaire and trait motor self-confidence scale. There was no significant difference in the positive mood between different sports levels in the mood measurement scale, but there was a significant difference between the national and the second level athletes in the negative mood dimension. There was a significant difference in the total score of mood disturbance between first and second level. Conclusions: there was no significant between males and females in each level. The five-factor mindfulness questionnaire mood measurement scale, contest anxiety questionnaire and trait motor self-confidence scale of national level athletes were significantly higher than other levels.