Anxiety is measured using subjective measures, such as questionnaires, and objective measures, such as physiological recordings. Subjective methods assess perceived thoughts and feelings; objective methods record bodily responses associated with anxiety.
Subjective Measures
Subjective measures rely on self-report. They can distinguish cognitive anxiety: worry and negative expectations, from somatic anxiety: perceived symptoms such as tension or “butterflies.”
The Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) measures competitive trait anxiety, a relatively stable tendency to experience anxiety. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) measures state anxiety at a particular moment through cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence scores. Standardized statements generate numerical results.
Objective Measures
Objective measures record changes linked to sympathetic nervous system activation without requiring the athlete to describe feelings.
| Measure | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| Heart rate | Increased cardiovascular activation |
| Skin conductance | Increased sweating from sympathetic activation |
| Muscle tension | Increased neuromuscular activation |
| Breathing rate | Increased respiratory activation |
| Cortisol concentration | Hormonal stress response |
These data can be collected continuously and reduce self-report bias. However, exercise, excitement, caffeine, and general arousal can produce similar changes, so physiological responses are not unique to anxiety.
Comparing Approaches
| Subjective measures | Objective measures |
|---|
