A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Competitive State Anxiety and Stress in Athletes

The purpose of this study was to systematically investigate the relationship between competitive state anxiety and stress in athletes through a meta-analysis. A total of 13 studies published domestically between 2000 and August 2025 were selected for analysis. Data were processed using Jamovi 2.7 and JASP 0.95.0.0 to calculate overall effect sizes, heterogeneity, and publication bias. First, the overall mean effect size for competitive state anxiety and stress in athletes was found to be medium (ES=.269). Second, regarding the effect sizes of competitive state anxiety sub-factors on stress, somatic anxiety showed the largest effect (ES=.539), followed by state self-confidence (ES=.288) and cognitive anxiety (ES=.080). Comprehensive analysis suggests that in competitive situations, the interaction between competitive state anxiety and stress may lead to heightened stress levels, potentially causing psychological losses such as performance decline and reduced confidence. Therefore, it is crucial for athletes to manage or alleviate anxiety through continuous and consistent simulation training to prevent anxiety during competitions. Furthermore, coaches should design training programs tailored to individual athletes to help relieve competitive state anxiety. In conclusion, this study holds academic significance by systematically reviewing and meta-analyzing competitive state anxiety and stress in athletes. Moreover, it can serve as foundational data for alleviating negative psychological factors among athletes in practical settings.