Stress in College Athletics

Stress in College Athletics
Author: Robert E Stevens
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 186
Release: 2013-10-08
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1135412375

Stress in College Athletics: Causes, Consequences, Coping addresses the causes and consequences of stress in college sports and offers effective coping mechanisms that will help individuals understand and control stressors and emotions in their environment. Athletic administrators, coaches, student athletes, parents of athletes, educators, and social and behavioral science researchers will benefit from this examination of what stress is, the different types of stress, and what factors can contribute to anxiety. Containing insight from hundreds of student athletes, coaches, and administrators, this vital book offers you proven research, clear explanations, and recommended suggestions that will enable you to cope with stress and not let it affect your job or your game. Examining how both males and females perceive stress, Stress in College Athletics explores developmental differences between the genders to explain the ways in which the two groups react to and deal with stress. Discussing the challenges that you deal with every day, this valuable book offers you several proven suggestions and methods to help reduce stress, including: Using coping techniques, such as physical exercise (other than the sport you play), recreational activities, muscle relaxation, biofeedback, and meditation Doing things for others and looking to your own spirituality in order to alleviate anxiety Eliminating factors such as fatigue and inferior health in order to avoid the negative emotions of jealousy, fear, and anger that can lead to tension and anxiety Learning how to relieve stress in your immediate environment (on the sidelines, in the audience, or during a test) through simple, effective, and inconspicuous exercises Adapting procedures for self-modification of behavior, such as identifying a behavior you want to change, thinking about the result of that behavior and how often it occurs, and reforming that conduct Through practical research, theories about stress and its causes and effects, and insight from peers, this excellent resource offers suggestions for further inquiry in the field of college athletics and stress. Complete and thorough, Stress in College Athletics will provide you with the necessary tools to help you create a personal stress management system that will improve your well-being in and out of the athletic forum.

The Effects of EMG Biofeedback Training and Relaxation Training on Self-reported Measures of Trait Anxiety and Sports Competition Anxiety

The Effects of EMG Biofeedback Training and Relaxation Training on Self-reported Measures of Trait Anxiety and Sports Competition Anxiety
Author: James Brik
Publisher:
Total Pages: 382
Release: 1984
Genre: Anxiety
ISBN:

This study examined the singular and combined effects of a progressive relaxation and biofeedback monitoring program upon Trait Anxiety, Sports Competition Anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension as measured by EMG readings. The programs were administered over a six-week sequence, with pre-measures utilizing the Spielberger Trait Anxiety measure, the Sports Competition Anxiety Test, and Rotter's Locus of Control Test to evaluate the psychological parameters. In addition, blood pressure and resting heart rate data were collected one hour prior to three competitive duo meets and prior to "warm-up". EMG monitoring by biofeedback was accomplished through use of the Autogen 1100 Myograph at a band pass setting of 100 to 200 Hz. EMG measures were made by use of the Autogen 5100 Digital Integrator using time-averaged performance of each subject. These measures were independent of the analysis feedback. All pre-measures were gathered prior to the various treatment strategies. The subjects were 36 male collegiate varsity track and field athletes divided into one of four treatment cells containing nine subjects each. Each group met for a total of twelve one-half hour sessions and participated in either a cassette-taped Quieting Response program, a Quieting Response program with augmented EMG biofeedback, or EMG biofeedback alone. The control group was administered the assessment items and blood pressure and resting heart rate measures to include EMG time-averaging monitoring. In lieu of treatment, the control group attended twelve one-half hour sessions of passive rest and listened to "music of choice" during these sessions. Statistical analysis using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that EMG measures were significantly reduced through the six weeks of training using relaxation training alone, biofeedback training, and combined relaxation/biofeedback training. There were no differences as a result of treatment effect for the variables for between group significance for any of the variables to include Trait Anxiety, Sports Competition Anxiety, Locus of Control, blood pressure, and resting heart rate.