Ansiedade e Medo de Falhar em jovens jogadores de futebol: O papel de fatores disposicionais, motivacionais e comportamentais

Abstract

Anxiety and fear of failure are present in sports and can negatively affect an athlete's performance. To help athletes manage their emotions, it is essential to study the factors that impact their performance. The motivational climate is linked to parents, coaches, and teammates, and the way they engage in the sport may influence the anxiety and fear of failure perceived by the athlete (Goméz et al., 2020). Sari and Bizan (2022) concluded that when parents get involved in the sport, the athlete tends to feel more motivated. Grit, which refers to passion for the task, is associated with intrinsic motivation and helps the athlete to act according to their long-term goals (Duckworth et al., 2007). Grit impacts sports performance as it helps the athlete overcome challenges and focus on their goals, reducing anxiety and fear of failure. Self-control is also an important factor in sports, as it is defined as the ability to regulate one's own emotions and resist impulses (Duckworth & Gross, 2014). Coping strategies are helpful for athletes, as the way they face problems will determine their levels of anxiety and fear of failure (Sagar et al., 2009). The aim of this dissertation was to explore the motivational and grit factors associated with anxiety and fear of failure in sports, particularly in football, and the strategies used to cope with them. The relationship between motivational climate and grit profiles with anxiety and fear of failure was studied (Study I), as well as the strategies athletes use to manage anxiety and fear of failure (Study II). Using a quantitative methodology, two studies were conducted to address the respective objectives. The instruments used were: Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport (Fonseca, 2002), Sport Anxiety Scale - 2 (Cruz & Gomes, 2007), Fear of Failure Assessment Inventory (Dias & Fonseca, 2011), Brief Grit Scale (Coutinho et al., 2022), Brief Cope (Dias et al., 2009), and the Self-Control Scale (Cruz, 2008). The results suggest that the dimensions of grit, mastery climate, and self-control help in managing anxiety and fear of failure, while coping strategies such as denial, religion, and self-blame tend to increase these levels. Future longitudinal studies could explore these variables in other populations and contexts, as well as examine the relationship between grit and coping strategies