Ming Hung Lin */** and Mei Hua Huang */***
(*) National Chung Husing University, Taiwan
(**) Graduate Institute of Sports and Health Management
(***) Habitual Domains Laboratory, Graduate Institute of Sports and Health Management
Citation
Hung Lin, M., Hua Huang, M. (2015). Decision-making styles, psychological skills, sport anxiety and principles for deep knowledge among athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 46(2), 167-186. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2015.46.167
Abstract
This study examined five decision-making styles among athletes, and the relationships between these styles and psychological skills, sport anxiety, as well as principles for deep knowledge. A total of 194 athletes, divided into four groups based on their competitive performance, completed a questionnaire that comprised the following sections: demographics, the General Decision-Making Styles, the Test of Performance Strategies in competition, the Sport Competitive Anxiety Test, and the Principles for Deep Knowledge. SEM, linear regression analysis, and MANOVA were applied. Results revealed that athletes should be encouraged to develop rational, intuitive, and dependent decision-making styles to increase tendencies for using psychological skills and the PDK. In particular, improving emotional- control and positive-thinking skills not only reduces sport anxiety, but can also prevent becoming avoidant and spontaneous decision-makers. Additionally, the PDK was found to be an important influence on decision-making styles and psychological skills usage.
Keywords: Decision-making styles, Habitual domains, Principles for deep knowledge, Psychological skills, Sport competition anxiety