Competition Anxiety, Motivation, and Mental Toughness in Golf

Authors

Jordan Schaefer, University Of WollongongFollow
Stewart A. Vella, University of WollongongFollow
Mark S. Allen, University of WollongongFollow
Christopher A. Magee, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

114520

Publication Details

Schaefer, J., Vella, S. A., Allen, M. S. & Magee, C. A. (2016). Competition Anxiety, Motivation, and Mental Toughness in Golf. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 28 (3), 309-320.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether one's profile of motivation was associated with competition anxiety through mental toughness among 173 competitive golfers (164 men, 9 women). Latent profile analysis identified three distinct motivation profiles (high, moderate, and low motivation). Multicategorical mediation models demonstrated that athletes reporting low or moderate levels of motivation had higher levels of competition anxiety, with these associations partially mediated by lower levels of mental toughness. These findings would permit practitioners to better understand motivation, mental toughness, and competition anxiety symptoms, and their associations.