Investigating the Effect of Attentional Focus on Competitive State Anxiety and Performance Under Pressure: A Mixed-Methods Study

Visaetsilapanonta, T, Butt, J ORCID: 0000-0002-0477-894X, Mahwinney, C, Low, W, Treeraj, A, Prachakul, W and Mills, A Investigating the Effect of Attentional Focus on Competitive State Anxiety and Performance Under Pressure: A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ISSN 1612-197X (Accepted)

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Abstract

Performance anxiety is a common challenge in competitive sport, often impairing execution through cognitive worry, somatic tension, and reduced self-confidence. This mixed-methods study examined whether attentional focus strategies (internal vs. external) influence competitive state anxiety and performance under pressure. Twenty-three male Thai university athletes completed two counterbalanced 1000m rowing trials on an ergometer, adopting either an internal focus (IF) or external focus (EF) of attention. Psychological responses were assessed using the Mental Readiness Form-3 (MRF-3) before each trial and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) immediately after, adapted to reflect perceived in-task experience. Performance time and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were also recorded. Quantitative analyses revealed no significant effect of focus condition on anxiety, self-confidence, or performance outcomes. However, pre-task cognitive anxiety significantly predicted in-task cognitive and somatic anxiety, and pre-task self-confidence significantly predicted in-task self-confidence. Qualitative data provided additional insight into how athletes experienced the attentional focus conditions, revealing that individual preferences, task familiarity, and perceived control shaped their responses. These findings suggest that psychological readiness to perform may play a more influential role than attentional cueing in shaping athletes’ ability to manage pressure and perform effectively. They also highlight the importance of tailoring attentional strategies to the specific demands of the task and the individual athlete’s psychological state. Implications for sport psychology research and applied practice are discussed.

Keywords: Attentional Focus, Competitive-State Anxiety, Constrained Action Hypothesis, Psychological Readiness

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	J
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy; 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology; 5203 Clinical and health psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
Date of acceptance:	15 April 2026
Date Deposited:	08 May 2026 12:57
Last Modified:	08 May 2026 12:57
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28538

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