Trait and State Anxiety: An Investigation of Athletes With Visual Impairment

Sport psychology researchers have put forth a great deal of effort to understand the facilitative and debilitative influences of anxiety on athletic performance. Little attention, however, has been given to the specific nature of anxiety experienced by athletes with disabilities, particularly those who are visually impaired. To gain a deeper understanding of the anxiety experienced by athletes with visual impairment, the researcher employed a mixed method design. Quantitative data were gathered from a sample of 20 male and female goalball players competing in a goalball national championship. The SCAT (Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990) and the CSAI-2 (Martens et al., 1990) were administered, and mean scores were compared with normative data. Males (n = 9) and nationally ranked female players (n = 5) exhibited lower Somatic State Anxiety subscale scores (p < .05) as compared to collegiate and elite norms, respectively. Males exhibited higher State Self-Confidence subscale scores and lower SCAT scores as compared to male collegiate norms (p < .05). Two focus groups were conducted by the researcher to supplement the quantitative findings. Each focus group consisted of 4 female participants; 2 nationally ranked players and 2 players who competed at the state level. Participants reported sources of anxiety which were similar to anxiety experienced by non-visually impaired athletes. Subthemes included anxiety related to game importance, making penalties and mistakes, and injuries. Participants also reported anxiety unique to athletes who are visually impaired, such as anxiety regarding injuries resulting from or causing increased visual impairment, travel and mobility, and changing the nature of sport participation given the onset of visual impairment. In addition, participants discussed anxiety regarding the impact of the presence of spectators. Participants discussed that having a team mentality, and strong affiliations and friendships with other goalball players served as underlying factors influencing anxiety. Participants discussed the importance of their roles as athletes, as well as suggestions for sport professionals working with athletes who are visually impaired. Based on the quantitative and qualitative findings, sport professionals should be aware of the possibility that athletes with visual impairment may experience anxiety similar to that which is experienced by sighted athletes, but that the presence of a visual impairment might also give rise to unique sources of anxiety. Understanding the nature of, as well as the factors contributing to anxiety experienced by athletes with visual impairments may help sport professionals work more effectively with this particular population of athletes
Keyword(s): adapted physical activity, multiculturalism/cultural diversity, sport topics