Psychological resilience and competitive anxiety among professional athletes during high stakes international tournaments

Andi Wijaya, Robert J Miller, Hiroshi Tanaka

Abstract


The psychological demands of international competition are immense, yet there is a lack of comprehensive research investigating the specific interaction between trait resilience and state anxiety during high-stakes events. While physical skills are often equalized at the elite level, the mental mechanisms that determine success remain under-explored. This study aims to investigate how psychological resilience mediates competitive anxiety and affects overall performance outcomes. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the researchers analyzed data from 250 elite athletes across multiple disciplines using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and physiological stress markers. The findings reveal a significant inverse correlation between resilience levels and cognitive anxiety, suggesting that high-resilience athletes maintain superior executive function under pressure. This research introduces a novel "Resilience-Performance Paradox" model, which explains why certain athletes thrive specifically during peak stress conditions. We are confident that these results provide a robust foundation for the implementation of mandatory psychological resilience protocols in national sports programs, ensuring that athletes are mentally equipped for the rigors of global competition.

Keywords


Wearable sensors; biomechanical loading; injury prevention; real-time monitoring; elite athletes

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.37905/jas.v3i2.38256

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