Podium (Feb 2021)
Relationship between psychological variables and sports injuries in baseball pitchers/Relación entre variables psicológicas y lesiones deportivas en lanzadores de béisbol
Abstract
A cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study was carried out to determine the relationship between psychological variables and injuries in 34 baseball pitchers of different competitive levels. Injuries were described by frequency analysis and percentage distribution, as well as mean, standard deviation, asymmetry and kurtosis for psychological variables; the K-S normality test was also performed for the sample. The psychological variables were compared between groups of pitchers by means of a one-factor Anova and the relationship between both groups of variables was analyzed by means of Pearson's correlation coefficient. Psychological variables were compared in relation to injuries, using the t-test for independent samples and one-factor Anova in each case, with a confidence interval of 95 % where p≤0.05. The questionnaire of sports aspects and injuries, trait-state anxiety inventory, state anxiety inventory in competition and psychological inventory of sports performance were used; a marked presence of injuries and a psychological profile where trait-anxiety, attention control, self-confidence, motivational level and positive coping control constitute the strong points were obtained, with differences in anxiety, according to the competitive level. Except for attitude control, psychological skills showed a relationship with injuries. The throwers with greater number and severity of injuries during the competitions present greater anxiety. It is concluded by affirming that the psychological preparation of the baseball pitcher should have the purpose of optimizing his sports performance and preserving his state of health.
