Different Results - Goal Difference In The Athletes In The Game At Different Stages Of Coping Strategies, Emotional Characteristics Of Their Relationships

This study adopted a 3 (PGD)×3 (phase) design, The first independent variable was performance-goal discrepancy, Athletes were divided into three groups based on their PGD scores. The second independent variable was the phases of the competition; it was divided into pre-, in- and post competition. The dependent variables were coping strategy and affect. 73 shooting athletes competing in China serial shooting match and championship were chosen as the subjects. This study examined the changes in athletes' coping and affect across the phases of a sport competition and the extent to which performance-goal discrepancy (PGD) moderated these changes. Also, it explored the mediating role of coping strategies in the PGD-affect relationships. The result showed that:1. At each phase of sport competition, task-oriented coping strategies correlated positively with positive affect, whereas emotion-oriented coping strategies correlated positively with negative affect.2.In the relationship of PGD and coping strategy, pre-and post-competition task-oriented coping strategies correlated positively with PGD, whereas emotion-oriented coping strategies correlated negatively with PGD.3. In the relationship of PGD and affect, PGD correlated positively with positive affect and negatively with negative affect at the pre-competition. Whereas PGD correlated positively with negative affect and negatively with positive affect at the post-competition.4.For the athletes with high-level PGD, coping strategies and affect were both active at pre-competition, but they changed into negative state very significantly in the competition. For the athletes with low-level PGD, coping strategies and affect were both active in the competition and at post-competition, but they were both negative at pre-competition. For the athletes with mid-level PGD, coping strategies and affect were both active at each phase of competition.5. At pre-competition, the athletes with high-level PGD were inclined to adopt coping strategies of mental imagery and Logical analysis, which might result in higher levels of positive affect, but the athletes with low-level PGD were inclined to adopt coping strategies of resignation, which might result in higher levels of negative affect. PGD couldn't result in positive or negative affect directly, but reacted on affect through coping strategies. PGD influenced affect of post-competition directly, and reacted on affect indirectly through mental distraction.