PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF AUTONOMY AND COMPETENCE ON COMPETITIVE ANXIETY AMONGST UNIVERSITY ATHLETES IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

University athleticism is geared towards competitiveness characterized by positive and negative behavioural outcomes which are determined by a psychological state called competitive anxiety. Hence, the sports psychologist has one of his prime roles ensuring athletes’ wish of getting into flow is realizable. This necessitated the study which examined the influence of autonomy and competence on competitive anxiety amongst university athletes in South-west Nigeria. Three research hypotheses were formulated for the study. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw the sample for the study. The research instrument titled Competitive Anxiety Determinant Scale (CADS) was designed using two standardized instruments with reliability co efficient (α) of each above 0.75. CADS was administered to (N=1200) participants for data collection. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from the results of the study revealed that: there was a significant relationship between autonomy and competitive anxiety (r = 0.305, p < 0.05 : r = 0.063, p < 0.05 ) and composite contributions to competitive anxiety .(F-value = 63.420, p<value 0.05). Autonomy and competence have specific contributions to competitive anxiety amongst university athletes in southwest Nigeria. It was recommended that University athletes’ coaches should ensure appropriate motivational techniques that are individualized and adopted to meet needs of each athlete; planning and organizing anxiety management training for the athlete.