Microsystemic study of the factors influencing the performance anxiety of student athlete

Abstract

This study characterizes the protective and risk factors of performance anxiety associated with parents, coaches and teachers of student athletes in Quebec Sport-studies programs. The interpretative qualitative study is anchored in Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. Sixteen semi-structured individual interviews document the perspective of four trios (student athlete, parent and coach), that of a dyad (student athlete and parent) and two people in sports and school management. The thematic analysis reveals more protective factors than risk factors. The results underline the importance of improving the knowledge of teachers and of better defining the academic expectations of student athletes related to the Sport-studies program. They emphasize the need to help student athletes change their thought patterns and promote learning through mistake. Finally, this study demonstrates the importance of considering the multiple sources of influence of performance anxiety.