Effects of Competition Anxiety on Self-Confidence in Soccer Players

Abstract

Background and Objective: This study aimed to verify the modulation effects of home and away games based on the relationships between competition anxiety and confidence of soccer players and provide basic data for improving the performance of soccer players. Material and Methods: A survey was conducted with 336 professional soccer players from the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Busan areas who were registered with the Korea Football Association as of 2016. In addition, for all data collected, multigroup structural equation modeling analysis and pairwise parameter comparison analysis were conducted. Results: The results of the analyses indicated competition anxiety had a significantly greater effect on self-confidence in the away group than in the home group (home: –9.7%; away: –55.7%). Pairwise parameter comparisons showed z = 2.532 was greater than the rejection criteria (±1.96: α = 0.05; ±2.58: α = 0.01), with a significant modulation effect at the 95% confidence level. Conclusion: These results indicated that effective reduction in anxiety would improve players’ confidence and thereby improve their performance in away games.

Keywords

• Competition anxiety, Confidence, Home and away games, Home advantage, Soccer players