COMPETITIVE ANXIETY, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS IN TOP ATHLETES WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES: PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Abstract. To test our premise of positive impact of sport activities on psychological health of persons with disability, which implies the ability of their thoughts and feelings control, we compared profile of their specific psychological characteristics profile of athletes of persons with disability (N=12) and without disabilities (N=12). Results this pilot study indicate that there is only one significant difference between top athletes with and without disability, only in achievement under pressure (F=4.655, p=.043). Psychological profile of athletes with disability is very similar to the profile of athletes without it, which proves that sport positively contribute their psychical strength making them equally ready for top results in sport as athletes without disabilities. Practicing sport has positive impact not only on sport Self-confidence (SCI) but on Global Self-Esteem (GSE) of athletes with disabilities. Their competitive anxiety is optimized (SCATr) and their psychological skills for overcoming stress are improved (ACSI28), so they are not different from their peers without disabilities. The age in athletes with disabilities is significantly in positive correlation with strength of their global self-esteem (r= .88, p= .001), with self-confidence and motivation for achievement in sport ACSI-coam (r= .67, p= .023) and negatively with their competition anxiety (r= -.65, p= .022). We can conclude that with growth of their competitive experience grows their sport confidence, especially psychological resilience (r=.64, p=.45).

Key words. sport, disability, psychological characteristics specific for sport