Anxiety and Self-esteem Variations Among Soccer Players: a Cross-sectional Analysis of Playing Positions
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: In soccer, players’ roles vary by playing position, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, each with distinct physical and psychological demands. Among the critical psychological attributes influencing player performance are competition anxiety and self-esteem, which significantly affect athletes’ mental readiness, decision-making, and overall performance on the field. Statement of the Problem: The purpose of the present study is to examine the levels of competition anxiety and self-esteem among soccer players based on their playing positions in Tripura's A-Division League. Method & Approach: The study investigated psychological traits among 90 A-Division soccer players from the 2024 Tripura A-Division League, comprising 30 players each from the playing positions of Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards. A cross-sectional research design was employed to evaluate players' anxiety levels using the Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) and self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Data normality was examined through Q-Q plots, ensuring statistical reliability. Scores for both scales were computed based on established guidelines. To determine positional differences in anxiety and self-esteem levels, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed for normally distributed data. At the same time, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied for non-parametric analysis. Results: The study reveals that Anxiety levels were moderate across all positions. However, no significant differences in anxiety were found, since the p value 0.333 > 0.05), suggesting that players face similar competitive stressors regardless of position. In contrast, self-esteem varied noticeably by position. Defenders reported the highest levels of low self-esteem. Though the significance difference was observed as p-value for the test, 0.005 < 0.05. Discussion: This suggests that players experience comparable competitive stress regardless of their roles on the field. However, self-esteem scores varied significantly by position, with defenders reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem. This could be attributed to the defenders’ critical role, where mistakes are often more visible and consequential. Conclusion: These findings highlight that players’ psychological traits are shaped not only by their specific roles but also by broader factors such as coaching strategies, team dynamics, and cultural influences. Article visualizations:
Authors: Abu Taher, Sm Farooque, Sharina Naorem, Sudip Das
Institution: Tripura University
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410877741