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The study was designed to compare the differences on the levels of Cognitive State Anxiety, Somatic State Anxiety, and Competitive Trait Anxiety, as well as State Self-Confidence, State Sport-Confidence, and Trait Sport-Confidence for varsity athletes between team sports (TS) and individual sports (IS). College varsity athletes (N = 69, TS = 39, IS = 30) aged 18 to 23 years were tested and analyzed during the study. Anxiety and self-confidence scores were obtained to compare the mean differences in the levels of anxiety and self-confidence of the participants. According to the Independent Group t Test, the means Cognitive State Anxiety, Somatic State Anxiety, and Competitive Trait Anxiety scores for TS athletes was significantly (p < .05) higher than the mean scores for IS athletes. On the other hand, the means State Self-Confidence, State Sport-- Confidence, and Trait Sport-Confidence scores for TS athletes were significantly (p < .05) higher than the mean scores for IS athletes. In conclusion, TS athletes have lower levels of cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety as compared to IS athletes; however, the level of competitive trait anxiety for the athletes of team and individual sports are similar. TS athletes have higher levels of state self-confidence, state sport-confidence, and trait sport-confidence as compared to IS athletes when they competed with their opponent(s). Further research was recommended.
INTRODUCTION
In sport competition, anxiety and self-confidence are considered to be two important psychological factors that influence optimal athletic performances (Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990; Vealey, 1986). Hogg (1980) indicated that athletes of the individual sports (e.g., swimming) showed low anxiety levels as compared to the team sports (e.g., softball, field hockey) groups. Carron (1982) made some interesting comparisons to competitive anxiety, the factors "include male and female athletes, team and individual sport athletes, competitive and non-competitive sport athletes and athletes of different age" (p. 102).
Martens et al. (1990), however, indicated that no significant differences between the levels of anxiety and type of sport, status, race of participants. Feltz (1982) indicated that individuals with a high level of anxiety will increase the threat potential of the activity and will decrease strenuous activities, while those with high level of self-- confidence are more likely to initiate and continue at highly strenuous activities as...