O (In)Sucesso na Competição Desportiva: A influência da Aceitação e do Auto-Criticismo

Abstract

It has been empirically showed the importance of acceptance of private events (thoughts, emotions, sensations), especially those that are negatively evaluated. Acceptance can be important as a counter response to attempt change, avoid and control the affective and cognitive negative experiences, as well as self-criticism. The present study investigates, within a sample of 106 swimming athletes, the influence of acceptance and self-criticism in motivation of athletes for training and their depressive and anxiety symptomatology, at different moments of anticipation, during and reaction to the sportive competition. Results clearly show that competitive anxiety is negatively related with acceptance and psychological skills. Furthermore, competitive anxiety is positively associated with self-criticism and the perception of a threat. Regression analysis shows that the acceptance is a unique contribution to competitive anxiety prediction; self-criticism predicts the perception of a threat in sportive competition.