Personality variables as antecedents of precompetitive mood state temporal patterning

Utilizing Marten's Competitive Process Model (1977) as a unifying framework, the present investigation examined personality mediators of precompetitive mood state temporal patterning among Competitive rifle shooters (n = 106). Personality variables included trait-sport confidence, optimism, hardiness, neuroticism and self-handicapping. Precompetitive mood was assessed using an abbreviated version of the Profile of Mood States. Each shooter completed the mood scale 48 hours, 24 hours, 12 hours and 15 minutes prior to a national championship. One-way MANOVAs and follow-up ANOVAs were conducted to determine if the personality variables exerted an influence on the magnitude or pattern mood state responses. Variables that showed a significant relationship to precompetitive mood were then entered into regression analyses to determine their combined impact in predicting the mood states. Results revealed that personality was not related to precompetitive mood state pattern, but the magnitude of various moods was influenced by trait-sport confidence, neuroticism, the control and commitment components of hardiness, and self-handicapping. When examined together, these variables accounted for between 21 and 39 percent of the variance (M = 30%) for 5 out of the 8 mood state subscales. It was concluded that a combination of sport-specific and general personality dispositions which are grounded in emotionality can explain a significant portion of the variance in precompetitive mood states.