Importance of mental health in the sports environment

Abstract

The objectives of this study are focused, firstly, on understanding the levels of cognitive anxiety, self-confidence, and pre- and post-match somatic anxiety. Secondly, to analyse the impact of the match outcome (win-loss) on the mentioned dimensions according to the Home-Away condition. The research involved 70 volleyball players (28 home and 42 away) belonging to cadet categories from different volleyball teams competing in the School Sports Program in the province of Araba, specifically in the city of Vitoria Gasteiz. Participants completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory in Sport (CSAI-2) (Martens et al., 1990), consisting of 27 items, adapted and validated in Spanish by Capdevila (1997), and subsequently reviewed and used by other researchers (Arruza et al., 2001; Telletxea, 2008). The results show that somatic anxiety significantly decreased between pre and post-match in the home condition, and there are significant differences between home players and away players in response to a victory outcome. The ability of coaches, monitors, and fitness trainers to understand and address athletes' anxiety states is crucial for optimizing their performance and overall well-being, as well as adherence to physical activity.