Estratificación diagnóstica y terapéutica. Las Unidades Clínicas de Epilepsia
Pregunta 55. Qué tipos de Unidades de Epilepsia existen?
reinforcement as a source o f their confidence, whereas performance accomplishment, thought
to represent the most powerful effects upon self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997), was identified as a
source o f confidence by all o f the athletes interviewed. Previous research utilising World
Class athletes (e.g. Durand-Bush & Salmela, 2002; Greenleaf et al., 2001) has suggested that
focusing on performance, rather than outcome, is conducive to successful Olympic
performances. However, these studies have not made gender comparisons. Results o f the
present study seemed to suggest that more males focused on competition outcomes whereas
the majority o f female athletes identified good personal performances as a source o f their
confidence. These findings are in accordance with research which has identified that different
antecedents predict self-confidence in males and females (e.g., Gill, 1988; Jones et al., 1991).
The results o f the present study certainly draw attention to possible gender differences in the
goal orientation o f those competing on the World Class stage, and might inform goal-setting
interventions. For example, World Class athletes might be encouraged to identify and focus
on the aspects o f their competition which facilitate their confidence (i.e., performance for
females and outcome for males). However, more research in this area is warranted before
more definitive conclusions can be drawn. In addition to competition accomplishments,
several athletes identified training accomplishments as important to their feelings o f
confidence, highlighting the importance o f structuring goal-setting programmes towards
achieving both training and competition targets. Indeed, goals have been consistently
identified as a crucial component of World class athletes' training schedules (Durand-Bush &
Salmela, 2002).
Mental preparation, rather than imaginal experiences per se, was identified by the
World Class athletes as conducive to their confidence. Although two of the athletes did make
reference to some form o f mental rehearsal, several additional mental skills were also
to their levels o f confidence. Thus, whilst the positive role o f imagery on athletes' feelings o f
confidence is well documented, the present study highlights the importance o f drawing on a
variety o f mental skills.
The remaining efficacy predictors, vicarious experience and emotional and
physiological states, were not identified as sources o f confidence by this elite group. Although
several studies have demonstrated that vicarious experience is an important means of
enhancing confidence (e.g. Hardy et al., 2000; Jones et al., 2002), it is possible that the
athletes World Class status made them less likely to derive confidence from observing other
athletes performing successfully. It is also possible that the positive affective responses, and
facilitative interpretations of physiological arousal thought to accompany high levels of
confidence (Jones et al., 1994; Vealey, 2001), might have been viewed as a consequence,
rather than as a source o f sport confidence, by the athletes interviewed. These suggestions
need to be investigated empirically.
In accordance with Vealey et al.'s (1998) contentions, the athletes in the present study
did identify additional sources o f confidence to Bandura's (1997) self-efficacy predictors. For
example, consistent with the findings of Vealey et al. (1998), all of the athletes in the present
study highlighted preparation as an important source of their sport confidence. Research with
World Class athletes has consistently identified preparation as conducive to high levels of
confidence (e.g. Jones & Hardy, 1990) and multifaceted preparation has been identified as a
positive factor influencing the performance o f Olympic athletes (Greenleaf et al., 2001). In
the present study, preparation was also cited as a confidence source multiple times in a
multitude o f ways. Consequently, responses were categorised into three distinct higher order
themes; physical, mental and holistic preparation. A holistic approach to competition included
the use o f additional resources, such as video analysis, which facilitated feelings o f
confidence: Such resources are likely to be more readily available to successful World Class
collegiate and masters athletes previously examined (e.g., Vealey et al., 1998; W ilson et al.,
2004). Nonetheless, since World Class athletes derive confidence from multifaceted
preparation, a multidisciplinary approach to athlete support would seem necessary.
The credibility, enthusiasm, and knowledge o f Olympic-level coaches have been
identified as critical to their athletes’ success (Durand-Bush & Salmela, 2002; Gould et al.,
1999). Furthermore, verbal persuasion has been consistently identified as an important
technique used by coaches to facilitate self-efficacy in athletes (e.g., Orlick & Partington,
1988; Weinberg et al., 1992). Thus, it is perhaps unsurprising that the coach was identified as
another fundamental source of confidence for the athletes interviewed. However, gender
variations were seemingly evident. Females derived confidence primarily from their coach's
encouragement, positive feedback/reinforcement and compliments, akin to the 'social support'
source o f sport confidence identified by Vealey et al. (1998). In contrast, male athletes tended
to derive confidence from a belief in their coach to establish an appropriate training
programme, comparable to Vealey et al.'s (1998) 'coach's leadership' source o f sport
confidence. Social support per se, was identified by an equal number o f male and female
athletes, suggesting that males do derive sport confidence from this area. However, this
source o f confidence referred to the social support o f family, partners and/or friends, rather
than coaching staff.
Whilst the current research base supports the notion that coaches' behaviour
significantly affects athletes psychosocial growth and development (Horn, 2002),
considerably less information is available concerning the coaching styles, behaviours and
feedback patterns that might affect athletes confidence (Horn, 2002). The findings o f the
present study highlight that the relationship between coach behaviour and sport confidence
per se warrants further examination, particularly with reference to the observed gender
to the confidence o f male athletes, whereas female athletes would benefit more from a
socially supportive coaching role. These findings would seem congruent with research
examining gender differences in regard to preferred coaching behaviours. For example, male
athletes have been found to favour an autocratic coaching style more so than female athletes
who exhibited greater preference than males for a democratic coaching style (e.g., Chelladurai
& Saleh, 1978; Terry, 1984). Thus, coaches should be aware o f these possible gender
differences, and be encouraged to interact with their athletes in a way that is facilitative to
their sport confidence.
Although parallels can be drawn between the findings o f the present study and
previous research, the findings highlighted within this investigation seem to provide further
evidence that organisational factors influence the sources o f sport confidence utilised by
athletes. For example, physical self-presentation, identified as an important source of
confidence by the collegiate athletes in Vealey et al.'s (1998) study, was acknowledged by
only one o f the World Class athletes interviewed. Vealey et al. (1998) proposed that either the
elite nature o f collegiate sport, or the greater emphasis placed on body type and presentation
in individual sport, might explain the importance collegiate athletes placed upon this
confidence source. Given that 86% o f the World Class athletes in the present study also
participated in individual sports, these contentions seem unlikely. Comparisons between the
findings of the present study and Vealey's research are cautionary, given the two different
types of analyses and the large difference in the numbers o f participants. Thus, further
research is required to examine causal explanations for the importance collegiate athletes
place upon their physical self-presentation, and would seem necessary given the potential
implications for sport professionals working with collegiate athletes.
The qualitative interviews employed by the present study resulted in*the identification
of additional sources o f sport confidence not highlighted by previous research (e.g., Vealey,
some 'innate ability' that facilitated their sporting success. These abilities ranged from
psychological factors such as competitiveness, confidence and analytical skill, to physical
factors such as natural skill and speed. The foundation for such beliefs cannot be inferred
from the present study, but given the robust nature o f such a confidence source, this area is
certainly worthy o f further exploration.
Perceived competitive advantage was a confidence source identified by the female
athletes only. This suggests that synonymous with previous research (e.g., Lirgg et al., 1996),
female athletes tended to derive confidence from the competitive situation at times, rather
than from internal factors. As such, these athletes might be more susceptible to external
confidence debilitating factors such as the organisational stressors associated with World
Class sports performance. Previous research has suggested that male athletes demonstrate
higher levels of confidence than female athletes (e.g., Krane & Williams, 1994; Lirgg, 1991;
Vargus-Tonsing & Bartholomew, 2006), and are less susceptible to changes in self-
confidence during the precompetition period (Jones & Cale, 1989; Jones et al., 1991). The
present findings would seem to suggest that gender differences might also be evident at the
World Class level. Although research has shown that at the Olympic Games athlete
confidence levels can be susceptible to instability (Gould et al., 1999), gender variations have
not been examined. Thus, further research is required to explore the relationship between
gender and levels o f sport confidence in World Class athletes and identify possible confidence
debilitating factors. This is particularly important given that even the most skilled performers
have been found to perform poorly under circumstances that undermine their belief in
themselves (e.g. Bandura & Jourden, 1991; W ood & Bandura, 1989). Such research is likely
to influence the development of interventions targeted at specific confidence needs.
An equal number of male and female athletes also derived confidence from their
reference to the increased understanding they developed through their athletic experiences,
which is perhaps unsurprising given the length o f time they had spent competing at the
highest sporting level. Indeed, the less experienced high-school and collegiate athletes in
Vealey et al.'s (1998) study did not identify this as a source o f their confidence. In addition to
experience, two of the female athletes also identified factors associated with 'self-awareness'
and maintained that when they felt happy and confident in their life outside sport, these
feelings transferred to how they felt within sport. Related to this, both the male and female
athletes derived sport confidence from the social support of their family, partners and/or
friends.
Two o f the male athletes identified 'trust' as a source o f confidence, in terms o f trust
within the support team (individual sport participant), and trust in team-mates to "perform to
the same standard as you want to achieve" (team player). Given that in team sports an athlete's
performance is influenced by that o f their team-mates, team players are likely to have
additional sources o f sport confidence available to them when compared to individual sports
participants. Since only two team players were interviewed in the present study, sport type
comparisons could not be made. This area warrants further exploration.
With regard to types o f confidence, the findings o f the present study indicated that the
sources of confidence identified by World Class athletes might influence the types of
confidence they possess. For example, all of the athletes interviewed identified preparation as
a source o f their confidence. The majority of these athletes were also confident about 'skill
execution,' their ability to perform sport-specific skills technically correctly and fulfil the
requirements of their sport or position. It would seem logical then to view types o f sport
confidence as evidence-based belief systems grounded in athletes’ sources o f sport
confidence. Further research specifically examining the relationship between sources and
Gender was found to influence the types o f confidence identified by the athletes. For
example, superiority to opposition was identified as a type of confidence by six o f the seven
male athletes, as opposed to only one o f the female athletes. Whereas the female athletes
derived confidence from the feeling that they had a competitive advantage over their
opposition, the male athletes just believed they were superior. Again, causality cannot be
inferred from the present study and further research is necessary to identify the reasons for
such observed gender differences.
3.7 SUMMARY
In summary, the purpose o f study one was to investigate one o f the most important
influences on sporting performance from the perspective o f successful World Class sports
performers. The sources o f confidence identified, and the variations within them, are unique
to sport and do not neatly fit existing models and literature on confidence. Thus, the use of in-
depth interviews enabled the exploration o f meanings o f sport confidence for a limited
sample, and resulted in contributions to the literature that haven’t been previously addressed.
In addition to psychological factors, physical, social, organisational and environmental factors
were discussed in relation to confidence. Consequently, this study has provided a broad
holistic view o f the sources and types o f sport confidence used by World Class athletes, and
how these might interact with non-psychological factors. Nonetheless, several areas for future
research in the study o f confidence and sport have been identified.
The findings o f study one have both theoretical and practical applications. From a
theoretical standpoint, the findings are testament to the multidimensional nature o f sport
confidence and the importance of utilising a sport-specific framework to aid future research.
Although self-efficacy theory has been successfully applied to many disciplines o f
psychology, it would seem that athletes specifically utilise additional sources o f confidence
form the basis o f an athlete's sport confidence beliefs and would therefore seem critical to
their confidence levels. The results of this study also indicated possible gender differences in
the goal orientation o f those competing on the World Class stage. Furthermore, the findings
identified that female athletes might be more susceptible to external confidence debilitating
factors such as the organisational stressors associated with World Class sports performance.
The integrative model o f sport confidence (Vealey, 2001) was designed to provide a
framework from which meaningful extensions to the literature could be generated. Thus,
gender variations in goal-setting strategies, and the factors responsible for debilitating sport
confidence, need to be explored within this sport specific context. Future goal-setting research
utilising World Class athletes specifically, is likely to inform goal-setting interventions with
this population group.
From a practical perspective, the findings have implications for sport psychologists
providing support to athletes competing on the World Class stage. Evidently, the development
o f interventions targeted towards protecting and enhancing an athlete's sources and types of
confidence is warranted. However, the present investigation provides further evidence that
demographic and organisational factors influence the sources o f sport confidence utilised by
athletes. These factors need to be considered when assessing the confidence levels of
performers. Consequently, the development of applied instruments designed to assess an
individuals particular confidence needs (i.e., sources and types of confidence), regardless of
their gender, sport level or sport type is merited. Furthermore, all athletes cited multiple
sources and types o f confidence which would suggest that it's unwise to focus on any
particular source or type o f confidence in practice. Rather, encouraging athletes to derive
confidence from a multitude o f sources, and develop an understanding of how and why they