LE3 .A278 2020

2020

Kruisselbrink, Darren

Acadia University

Bachelor of Kinesiology

Honours

Kinesiology

Kinesiology

Research in the field of pre-competitive anxiety shows almost no research within the sport of competitive cheerleading. This high intensity, year-round sport has a highly competitive environment which can create pre-competitive anxiety that can be debilitative or facilitative depending on the coping mechanisms used. This study examined the relationship between the use of progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) and pre-competitive anxiety levels between two female only competitive cheerleading teams. A total of 23 female 4.2 level cheerleaders were divided into intervention or control group by team. The intervention group received PMR training. All participants completed a variety of questionnaires including the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) and a 5-item athlete satisfaction scale as pre-and post-test, as well as the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Directional (CSAI-2D) prior to two in-season competitions. Competitive anxiety and satisfaction within the intervention group was unaffected from pre-test to post-test. Pre-competitive anxiety results showed that PMR had no significant effect on the intervention group across competitions. Limitations in the current study include unregulated PMR practice within the intervention group which may have undermined the effectiveness of the intervention, and the duration of the study. Although the current study did not find that PMR affected pre-competitive anxiety, the need for research on anxiety levels and environmental stressors in the sport of competitive cheerleading remains.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3416