An alternative approach to short-form self-report assessment of competitive anxiety: A research note

This study reports the concurrent validity testing of two short-form competitive state anxiety inventories, an Immediate Anxiety Measurement Scale (IAMS) (newly devised) and the Mental Readiness Form-3 (MRF-3) with the criterion scale, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). Encompassing dimensions of anxiety interpretations (direction), and frequency of cognitive intrusions, the investigation attempted to alleviate the time consuming assessment of anxiety through a 1-week time-to-event paradigm. Following structured education, competitive athletes (N = 82) completed the inventories arrive precompetition temporal stages (1-week, 2-days, 2-day, 2-hours and 30-minutes). Relative measurement agreements and change over-time analyses indicated the IAMS displayed stronger validity than the MRF-3 especially at times close to education and competition. Results suggest athletes may be taught to recognize and report the direct constructs and dimensions of anxiety, and that the IAMS may be of use when examining anxiety states both close to and during competition.