Pre-competition anxiety and fear of failure in athletes of varying age and gender

Background and Study Aim. This study investigates the relationship between fear of failure and pre-competition anxiety levels among athletes of different ages and genders. Material and methods. A total of 279 athletes, aged 12 to 29 years, voluntarily participated in this study. They were divided into two distinct age groups across six sports disciplines: younger athletes (12-18 years) and older athletes (19-29 years), male athletes (n=140) and female athletes (n=139). Pre-competition anxiety was measured using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), while fear of failure was assessed through the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI). The collected data were analyzed using t-tests, and statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results. The results revealed a strong positive correlation between pre-competition anxiety and fear of failure across all age groups and sports. Athletes with elevated levels of anxiety also demonstrated a greater fear of failure. Moreover, male athletes exhibited significantly higher levels of both pre-competition anxiety and fear of failure compared to female athletes, with these psychological challenges intensifying with age. Conclusions. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing anxiety and fear of failure, especially among male athletes, as these factors can hinder performance. Incorporating mental resilience training in athlete preparation may help mitigate these effects and enhance overall performance.