ANXIETY AND SELF-ESTEEM VARIATIONS AMONG SOCCER PLAYERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PLAYING POSITIONS
Abstract
Background: In soccer, players’ roles vary by playing position, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, each with distinct physical and psychological demands. Among the critical psychological attributes influencing player performance are competition anxiety and self-esteem, which significantly affect athletes’ mental readiness, decision-making, and overall performance on the field. Statement of the Problem: The purpose of the present study is to examine the levels of competition anxiety and self-esteem among soccer players based on their playing positions in Tripura's A-Division League. Method & Approach: The study investigated psychological traits among 90 A-Division soccer players from the 2024 Tripura A-Division League, comprising 30 players each from the playing positions of Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards. A cross-sectional research design was employed to evaluate players' anxiety levels using the Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) and self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Data normality was examined through Q-Q plots, ensuring statistical reliability. Scores for both scales were computed based on established guidelines. To determine positional differences in anxiety and self-esteem levels, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed for normally distributed data. At the same time, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied for non-parametric analysis. Results: The study reveals that Anxiety levels were moderate across all positions. However, no significant differences in anxiety were found, since the p value 0.333 > 0.05), suggesting that players face similar competitive stressors regardless of position. In contrast, self-esteem varied noticeably by position. Defenders reported the highest levels of low self-esteem. Though the significance difference was observed as p-value for the test, 0.005 < 0.05. Discussion: This suggests that players experience comparable competitive stress regardless of their roles on the field. However, self-esteem scores varied significantly by position, with defenders reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem. This could be attributed to the defenders’ critical role, where mistakes are often more visible and consequential. Conclusion: These findings highlight that players’ psychological traits are shaped not only by their specific roles but also by broader factors such as coaching strategies, team dynamics, and cultural influences.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v12i5.5980
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