Apiluk Theanthong

Introduction: Superstitious rituals are commonly practiced to manage emotions and cope with uncertainty during competitions. These behaviors could affect competitive state anxiety, but evidence regarding the impact among collegiate athletes remains inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate whether superstitious rituals were associated with competitive state anxiety in collegiate athletes and to compare differences between genders. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 138 collegiate athletes (98 men and 40 women) completed the Superstitious Rituals Questionnaire and the Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 approximately 60 minutes before competition. Correlations between superstitious ritual factors and competitive state anxiety components were analyzed by using Pearson correlation, and predictive contributions to competitive state anxiety were determined by multiple regression. Gender differences were tested by One-way multivariate analysis of variance. Results: Somatic anxiety was significantly associated with clothing and appearance, prayer, and coach factors (r = 0.20 - 025; p < 0.05). Cognitive anxiety was significantly associated with team rituals, prayer, and coach factors (r = 0.18 - 0.83; p < 0.05). Self-confidence was significantly correlated with pre-game routines, game-day rituals, team rituals, prayer, and coach factors (r = 0.18 - 0.32; p < 0.05). Somatic anxiety was mainly influenced by coach factor (6% prediction), while cognitive anxiety and self-confidence could be predicted by team rituals factor (3% and 9%, respectively). Comparison analyses showed a significant difference only in the clothing and appearance factor ( p < 0.05), with higher scores in males than females. Discussion: These findings indicate that although superstitious rituals demonstrate limited overall predictive strength, certain ritual dimensions related to team processes and coaching involvement may play a functional psychological role by supporting emotional regulation and enhancing self-confidence in competitive settings. Conclusion: While superstitious rituals showed minimal overall influence on competitive state anxiety, specific factors were differentially associated with anxiety components and confidence. The observed patterns were largely consistent across genders, suggesting shared coping mechanisms among collegiate athletes.

Introduction/Background: Slow-Paced Breathing (SPB) is a reliable intervention for emotional regulation that facilitates autonomic stability. When integrated into Pre-Shot Routines (PSR) of golfers, SPB facilitates emotional regulation, sustains attentional stability under pressure, and ensures precise motor execution. However, the psychophysiological impacts of integrating SPB into PSR and their effects on performance outcomes have yet to be fully characterized across varying conditions. Objectives: This study aims to examine the effects of SPB integrated with PSR (SPB+PSR) on swing performance and autonomic regulation. Methods: This study used a within-subject, repeated measures design. Fifteen male golfers (aged 18–30) completed three protocols: PSR, SPB+PSR under control (non-pressure) conditions, and SPB+PSR under pressure. Autonomic activity (measured via RMSSD), heart rate, swing characteristics, and psychological states were recorded before and after the golf swing test. Results: The SPB+PSR protocol showed significantly higher RMSSD and lower heart rate responses than PSR alone ( p < 0.05). Under pressure, SPB+PSR resulted in better swing distance but increased lateral deviation as compared to the normal condition. Although golfers reported enhanced mental clarity and relaxation when performing SPB+PSR, their confidence decreased under pressure. Discussion: The increased RMSSD observed in the SPB+PSR protocol indicates a reduction in physiological stress and an enhancement of parasympathetic activity. However, the decrease in shot accuracy under pressure suggests that SPB's efficacy in improving performance outcomes may be limited. It is plausible that moderate arousal impaired fine motor control and decreased self-confidence, thereby attenuating the physiological benefits of the breathing intervention. Conclusion: The SPB+PSR protocol enhances autonomic regulation and psychological readiness in male golfers. While this protocol improves swing performance, its efficacy in maintaining shot accuracy diminishes under pressure. Consequently, integrating SPB into PSR may help golfers manage their mental state and motor control, though additional training may be needed to maintain performance in high-demand, unpredictable environments.

Background. In 2016, studies on the psychological characteristics of Futsal athletes in Thailand began to appear using the Psychological Characteristic Questionnaire for Elite Futsal Athletes in Competition. However, it was found that the questionnaire mentioned above had not been analyzed for construct validity. Therefore, an additional assessment of the questionnaire, ...