•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Competitive bodybuilding involves severe dietary restriction, high training demands, and constant evaluation of physique-related outcomes. Within the sport, it is common for competitors to engage in intensive prep monitoring behaviors such as tracking caloric intake and training load to support contest preparation. As contest prep practices may tax attentional resources and disrupt emotional regulation of competitors, some athletes utilize formal coaching to assist with performance monitoring while others engage in self-coaching strategies. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine sport anxiety levels amongst competitive bodybuilders who engage in prep monitoring behaviors. Additionally, the contribution of coaching presence was evaluated to compare coached and non-coached competitors. METHODS: Competitive bodybuilders were recruited to complete an online self-report survey assessing contest preparation behaviors and psychological measures of sport anxiety (Sport Anxiety Scale-2; SAS-2). Competitors who reported engagement in five prep monitoring behaviors (i.e., tracking of caloric intake, hydration, training regimen, physique changes) were included (N = 200). From this sample of competitive bodybuilders, SAS-2 scores were compared between coached (n = 176) and non-coached (n = 24) bodybuilders using an independent samples t-test. RESULTS: Results indicated a statistically significant difference in sport anxiety between groups, t(32) = −1.77, p < 0.05. Bodybuilders with a coach (M = 25.38, SD = 63.78) reported higher SAS-2 scores compared to those without (M = 22.75, SD = 44.54). CONCLUSION: Among bodybuilders engaging in prep monitoring behaviors, coached competitors report higher sport anxiety scores when compared to those without a coach. These results suggest that evaluative input from a coach may be detrimental to athletes’ mental health, contributing to heightened anxieties and psychological distress. Future research of coaching practices such as coaching feedback and expectations may improve the support and psychological regulation provided to competitive bodybuilders, particularly during the high stresses of contest preparation.

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.