Failure Response and Coping among Female Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

The current study explores the failure response and coping skills of 37 female collegiate athletes. All athletes completed the Athletic Coping Skill Inventory (ACSI-28) the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory, and four athletes were interviewed. Descriptive statistics for the five subscales of the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (Form A) for the entire sample showed that fear of experiencing shame and embarrassment was the highest fear (M=3.27, SD=0.80), followed by fear of upsetting important others (M=2.77, SD=0.89). Descriptive statistics for the seven subscales of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory for the entire sample showed that coachability had the highest score (M=10.06, SD=1.51), followed by confidence and achievement motivation (M=8.63, SD=1.74). Comparisons were also made based on athlete status (underclassman vs upperclassman) and by team status (team vs individual). Based on athlete status, a significance difference (p=0.05) on the PFAI inventory was found for fear of shame and embarrassment (under 3.5 mean, upper 2.89 mean, p=0.02), fear of uncertain future (under 1.26 mean, upper 0.60 mean, p=0.02), and overall score (under 2.61 mean, upper 2.15 mean, p=0.03). For all of these categories, upperclassmen were less likely than underclassmen to describe themselves as feeling fear of shame and embarrassment, fear of an uncertain future, and overall score. On the ACSI inventory, a significance difference was found for freedom from worry (under 4.8 mean, upper 6.84 mean, p=0.05). As indicated, upperclassmen are free from worry more than are underclassmen. Based on team status, no significant differences were found between team vs individual sport athletes on the PFAI inventory. On the ACSI inventory, a difference was found for peaking under pressure (team 7.84 mean, 5.66 individual mean, p=0.02). This finding indicates that team sport athletes, more so than individual sport athletes, feel challenged rather than threatened under pressure situations and perform well under pressure. Keywords: coping, athletes, coaches, failure