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Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i8.6488
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Ansiedade em atletas de Jiu-Jitsu: diferenças de acordo com idade e nível competitivo
Anxiety in Jiu-Jitsu athletes: differences according to age and competitive level
Ansiedad en los atletas de Jiu-Jitsu: diferencias según la edad y el nivel competitivo
Recebido: 08/07/2020 | Revisado: 10/07/2020 | Aceito: 12/07/2020 | Publicado: 31/07/2020
Gabriel Lucas Morais Freire
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0589-9003
Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Brasil
E-mail: bi88el@gmail.com
Júlia Cavalcanti Ferraz
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5082-1294
Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Brasil
E-mail: juliacferraz@hotmail.com
Dalton de Lima-Junior
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1542-604X
Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brasil
E-mail: limajunior.dalton@gmail.com
Carla Thamires Laranjeira Granja
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5859-0539
Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Brasil
E-mail: thamiresgranja1@gmail.com
Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0272-9773
Centro Universitário de Maringá, Brasil
E-mail: d.vicentini@hotmail.com
José Roberto Andrade do Nascimento Junior
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3836-6967
Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Brasil
E-mail: jroberto.jrs01@gmail.com
Resumo
O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a ansiedade pré-competitiva com base na faixa etária e
classificação competitiva de 26 atletas de jiu-jitsu com idade entre 25.5 ± 5.24 anos. O
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i8.6488
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instrumento utilizado foi o Inventory of Anxiety State Competitive-2 (CSAI-2). A análise dos
dados foi realizada pelo Shapiro-Wilk, teste t de Student independente, correlação de Pearson
e regressão linear simples (p <0.05). Os resultados revelaram que atletas mais velhos e mais
competitivos apresentaram menor magnitude de ansiedade cognitiva (p <0.05). Observamos
uma associação moderada e inversa (r = -0.63, p <0.05) entre ansiedade cognitiva e idade,
representando 38% (R2 = 0.38) da variação da ansiedade cognitiva em atletas. Concluiu-se
que a idade e a classificação competitiva podem ser consideradas fatores intervenientes na
ansiedade pré-competitiva dos atletas de jiu-jitsu, especificamente na ansiedade cognitiva.
Palavras chave: Ansiedade competitiva; Jiu Jitsu; Psicologia do esporte; Estado de
ansiedade; Atletas.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze pre-competitive anxiety based on the age range and
competitive classification of 26 jiu-jitsu athletes aged 25.5 ± 5.24 years. The instrument used
was the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). Data analysis was conducted using
the Shapiro-Wilk, independent Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation and simple linear
regression (p <0.05). The results revealed that older and more competitive athletes presented a
lower magnitude of cognitive anxiety (p <0.05). We observed a moderate and inverse
association (r = -0.63, p <0.05) between cognitive anxiety and age, accounting for 38% (R2 =
0.38) of the variance of cognitive anxiety in athletes. It was concluded that age and
competitive classification can be considered as intervening factors in the pre-competitive
anxiety of jiu-jitsu athletes, specifically in cognitive anxiety.
Keywords: Competitive anxiety; Jiu Jitsu; Psychology of sport; Anxiety-status; Athletes.
Resumen
El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la ansiedad precompetitiva en función del rango de
edad y la clasificación competitiva de 26 atletas de jiu-jitsu de 25,5 ± 5,24 años. El
instrumento utilizado fue el Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). El análisis de
los datos se realizó mediante la prueba t de Student independiente de Shapiro-Wilk, Pearson
correlación y regresión lineal simple (p <0.05). Los resultados revelaron que los atletas
mayores y más competitivos presentaron una menor magnitud de ansiedad cognitiva (p
<0.05). Observamos una asociación moderada e inversa (r = -0.63, p <0.05) entre la ansiedad
cognitiva y la edad, lo que representa el 38% (R2 = 0.38) de la varianza de la ansiedad
cognitiva en los atletas. Se concluyó que la edad y la clasificación competitiva pueden
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i8.6488
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considerarse factores intervinientes en la ansiedad precompetitiva de los atletas de jiu-jitsu,
específicamente en la ansiedad cognitiva.
Palabras clave: Ansiedad competitiva; Jiu Jitsu; Psicología del deporte; Estado de ansiedad;
Atletas.
1. Introduction
Jiu-jitsu was originated in the eastern culture, as a martial art used for combat with and
without weapons. Combat sports, including jiu-jitsu, in their competitive form, divide their
athletes by weight in order to create more balanced fights with similar strength and agility
(Artioli et al., 2010). This factor leads to the main roles of physical, technical, tactical,
morphological, and psychological aspects (Franchini, Branco, Agostinho, Calmet, & Candau,
2015).
In the preparation of the athletes, it is common to train with a high volume of specific
modality techniques and, routinely, the recovery time between the training sessions turns out
as inadequate (Mendes et al., 2013). This reality precedes poor food consumption, induced
vomiting, restriction of liquid intake and use of laxatives/diuretics, with the premise of
inducing rapid weight loss to reach compatible weight with the category (Fortes, Lira, &
Ferreira, 2017; Morais-Junior, Bastos, Silva, Valido, & Brito, 2017).
In addition to adverse effects on the physiological performance (Abedelmalek,
Chtourou, Souissi, & Tabka, 2015; Franchini, Brito, & Artioli, 2012), quick reduction in body
mass may affect cognitive performance (Fortes et al., 2017). Among these cognitive
components, it stands out pre-competitive anxiety, one of the most recurrent emotional states
in competitive sport. Anxiety is defined as a negative emotional state that is characterized by
thoughts of nervousness, concern, and apprehension associated with physical sensations
(Nascimento, Bahiana, Nunes-Junior, & Esp, 2012; Martens, Vealey, & Burton, 1990). In the
context of sports psychology, researches have used the multidimensional theory of
competitive anxiety as a theoretical basis for the study of anxiety (Fernandes, Nunes, Raposo,
& Fernandes, 2014; Silva, Araújo, Arantes, Neto, & Melo, 2018; Sonoo, Gomes, Damasceno,
Silva, & Limana, 2010).
The theory comprises three main components; the first component is cognitive, which
involves thoughts and doubts about your own performance and the competitive occasion, as
well as a judgment of yourself. The second component consists of a somatic disorder, which
is characterized by physiological sensations of excitation, such as increased sweating,
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i8.6488
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heartbeats and muscle tension, altered breathing, and cold in the stomach. Subsequently, the
third dimension is called self-confidence, which is the belief on the part of the individual in
their abilities to achieve a positive performance (Martens et al., 1990).
Some studies have sought to assess anxiety in combat sports, such as Olympic
wrestling (Abreu, Nascimento, Santos, Sales, & Ferreira, 2015) and karate (Silva et al., 2018).
However, the literature lacks the effect of anxiety on jiu-jitsu athletes. Thus, being a sport that
cognitive function is essential to decide when and which is the best attack and defense
movements, addressing such influences on jiu-jitsu athletes is crucial. Thereby, this is the gap
this study intends to move forward.
However, the objective of this study was to evaluate the pre-competitive anxiety of
jiu-jitsu athletes according to age and competitive rating, in addition, to check the relationship
of pre-competitive anxiety with age and performance. The hypothesis of the study is that
younger and less competitive athletes have higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of self-
confidence.
2. Méthods
Participants
26 Jiu-Jitsu athletes (21 male and 5 female) aged 18-33 (25.5± 5.24 years) participated
in this study, participating in a regional championship held in the city of Petrolina,
Pernambuco from Brazil.
The selection of participants was non-probabilistic, adopting the convenience
technique and the inclusion criteria were the following: 1) to be over 18 years old; 2) to be
enrolled in the competition and. Only the athletes who signed the free and clear consent term
and who verbally expressed the desire to participate in the research were included in the
study.
Instruments
Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2)
Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2) Originally developed by Martens
Vealey e Burton (Martens et al., 1990)] and validated for the Brazilian context by Fernandes,
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i8.6488
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Raposo e Fernandes (Fernandes, Vasconcelos-Raposo, & Fernandes, 2012). This instrument
consists of 27 items distributed in three sub-scales: cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and
self-confidence. Items are answered on a Likert scale, in a continuum that varies between
“nothing” (1) e “quite” (4). The alpha ranged from α = 0.72 to α = 0.78 for the participants in
this survey, indicating strong data reliability (Hair, Risher, Sarstedt, & Ringle, 2019).
Age and competitive rating
The age was analysed by means of an open question, in which the participant should
point out the age in years. For the comparison of pre-competitive anxiety according to age,
athletes were divided into two groups (up to 24.5 and more than 24.5) according to the
process of “Median Split” (<24.5 e >24.5 years).
For the comparison of pre-competitive anxiety according to age, athletes were divided
into two groups (up to 24.5 and more than 24.5) according to the process of. Verificar redação.
From the final standings, the athletes were divided into two groups: 1) Finalist: Athletes
finished in first and second place (n =19)); e 2) No-Finalist: Athletes who finished the
competition in 3rd and 4th place (n = 7).
Procedure
The procedures adopted in this research obeyed the criteria of Ethics in research with
human beings as Resolution n: 466/12 of the National Health Council. The study is integrated
with the institutional project approved by the Ethics Committee in research the University
Federal do Vale do São Francisco (n 1.648.086).
Initially, contact was made with the Organizing Committee of the Championship to
request the authorization to carry out the data collections with the athletes. Ficou confuso. O
terceiro critério de inclusão era não ter lutado no dia. Aqui, relata que a coleta foi reallizada
pouco tempo antes da luta. Explicar melhor ou corrigir. The collections were held at the
competition site approximately 60 minutes before each athlete's first fight. The application of
the questionnaires was carried out individually in a private place, and the completion of the
questionnaires lasted approximately 10 minutes.
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
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Data analysis
The preliminary analysis of the data was carried out by means of the normality test of
Shapiro-Wilk. As the data presented normal distribution, the mean and standard deviation
were used for the characterisation of the results. The test was used is t de student independent
for the comparison of pre-competitive anxiety according to the groups (age range and
competitive level). The effect size (d) was also calculated using the Model proposed by
Cohen (1992) for differences in the values of two independent groups. According to Cohen's
criteria, a value d = 0.20 represents small effect size; d = 0.50, medium; and d = 0.80, large.
The correlation of anxiety dimensions with age and the competitive classification was made
by the correlation coefficient of Pearson.
This was conducted by a simple, linear regression model to ascertain the percentage of
explained variance of age and rank competitive (independent variables) on the subscales of
anxiety (dependent variable) that showed significant correlation (p < 0.05). Although the sample is
considered small for regression models, Knofczynski and Mundfrom (2008) they have ensured
that the minimum of two subjects is already acceptable for a simple or multiple regression model
to have a good prediction level. The Variance Inflation Factors (VIF) were calculated and no
variable showed multicolinarity indicators (VIF < 5.0). All analyses were conducted in the SPSS
22.0 software, adopting the level of significance of p < 0.05.
3. Resultados
Results
When age-related anxiety was compared (Table 1), there was a significant difference
between groups only for cognitive anxiety (p=0.002). As shown in Table 1, athletes above
24.5 years old presented lower scores (x = 1.33) when compared to younger athletes (x =
2.35). This effect is considered large (d > 0.50). When athletes were stratified according to the
competitive classification in the competition (finalists =1st and 2nd place; and non-finalists =
3rd and 4th place), athletes differ statistically significantly for cognitive anxiety (p = 0.046)
(Table 1), indicating that the non-finalists presented with greater cognitive anxiety. This
difference showed a large effect (d > 0.50).
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
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Table 1. Comparison of pre-competitive anxiety of jiu-jitsu athletes according to age and
competitive rating.
Competitive Anxiety
GROUPS
Cognitive Anxiety
Somatic Anxiety
Self-Confidence
x (dp)
x (dp)
x (dp)
Age range
Up to 24,5 (n=13)
2.35 ± 0.89
2.48 ± 0.77
2.66 ± 0.87
above 24,5 (n=13)
1.33 ± 0.41
1.96 ± 0.56
3.03 ± 0.73
p-value
0.002*
0.063
0.256
ES
1.47
0.77
-0.46
Competitive
rating
Finalist (n=19)
3.03 ± 0.73
2.14 ± 0.69
2.97 ± 0.80
Non-finalist (n=7)
2.37 ± 0.81
2.45 ± 0.76
2.48 ± 0.78
p-value
0.046*
0.340
0.176
ES
-0.89
-0.42
0.62
* Significant difference-p<0.05. Note: ES = effect size. Independent Student t-test. Source: Authors.
There was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) of cognitive anxiety with age (r = -0.63),
indicating an inverse relationship between variables (Table 2). After the correlation analyses,
simple linear regression was performed to analyze the age variance on cognitive anxiety. The
model revealed that 38% of cognitive anxiety variance was explained by age (F = 16.053; β =
-0.63; p = 0.001). It is noted that at each increase of 1 standard deviation in the age unit there
was a reduction of 0.63 standard deviations in the cognitive anxiety unit.
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
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Table 2. Correlation of pre-competitive anxiety with age and competitive rating.
Pre-competitive anxiety
Age
Competitive rating
Cognitive Anxiety
-0.63*
0.16
Somatic Anxiety
-0.34
0.15
Self-Confidence
0.29
-0.18
*significant correlation (p < 0.05) –Pearson correlation. Source: Authors.
4. Discussion
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pre-competitive anxiety of jiu-jitsu
athletes according to their age and competitive rating. The main findings were that the older
athletes with the best competitive rating had lower levels of cognitive anxiety, in addition to
the inverse association between cognitive anxiety and age.
When compared to anxiety according to age, it was observed that younger athletes
have higher levels of cognitive anxiety than older athletes. This finding seems to indicate that
negative thoughts and concerns about the competition tend to decrease as athletes become
more experienced. Such a find goes to meet the Martens et al. (1990), which points out that
cognitive anxiety tends to decrease as the athlete increases the practice time and experience in
the task.
These results are similar to those of the validation study of the CSAI-2R performed by
Fernandes et al. (2014). Among the studies that evaluated combat sports, about the influence
of age on anxiety we might affirm that the more experience in the sport, the smaller the
magnitude of anxiety (Fernandes et al., 2014; Interdonato, Miarka, & Franchini, 2013).
Competitive anxiety is closely related to stress (Martens et al., 1990). Therefore,
athletes who perceive competition as a stressful event commonly demonstrate a greater
magnitude of competitive anxiety. Considering the combat sports athletes who adopt the rapid
weight loss show a higher level of stress (Fortes et al., 2017), it is reasonable to assume
athletes that use rapid weight loss might increase, even indirectly, the magnitude of the
anxiety. Moreover, competitive and younger athletes have been adopting with greater
frequency strategies of rapid loss of weight, which could explain the differences of anxiety
cognitive between younger athletes and older.
When analyzing competitive anxiety as a function of the competitive rating, it was
found that the finalists presented a lower level of cognitive anxiety compared to the non-
Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 8, e743986488, 2020
(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i8.6488
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finalists. Corroborating to the findings of this research, Paludo, Nunes, Simões and Fernandes
(2017) found that lower cognitive anxiety values tend to be associated with satisfactory
results in sports performance. According to the multidimensional theory of competitive
anxiety (Martens et al., 1990), cognitive anxiety concerns the athlete's negative expectations
about his performance. Therefore, is essential well-prepared coaches and sports psychology
experts who are able to manage such expectations, which if not controlled may result in a
performance reduction (Capranica et al., 2017).
As a transversal study and with a single instrument (self-reporting scale), the data
obtained allow correlations between variables, but not causality inferences, which is one of
the limitations of the research. In addition, the number of participants impairs some
comparisons, such as anxiety levels between different years of experience and between the
sexes. In this way, future researches should carry out longitudinal designs, making several
measures of competitive anxiety in different championships.
5. Conclusion
It was concluded that age and competitive rating might be considered as contributing
factors in the cognitive anxiety of jiu-jitsu athletes. It is noted that older athletes with better
competitive rating reported fewer negative thoughts and nervousness moments prior to the
competition. From a practical point of view, we highlight the importance of the experience in
the modality and the setting of goals for the achievement of sports success as ways to control
the symptoms of cognitive anxiety in moments prior to the competition.
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Percentage of contribution of each author in the manuscript
Gabriel Lucas Morais Freire-16,66%
Júlia Cavalcanti Ferraz-16,66%
Dalton de Lima-Junior-16,66%
Carla Thamires Laranjeira Granja-16,66%
Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira- 16,66%
José Roberto Andrade do Nascimento Junior- 16,66%