Nicholls, A. R., Hemmings, B., & Clough, P. J. (2010). Stress appraisals, emotions, and coping among international adolescent golfers. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 20, 346–355.

This study explored (a) the emotions generated during or as a consequence of stress appraisals, after coping, and after the event outcome, (b) whether multiple emotions were generated from the initial stress appraisal through to event outcome, and (c) whether outcomes that were perceived as favorable resulted in positive emotions and outcomes that were perceived as unfavorable or neither favorable nor unfavorable resulted in negatively toned emotions. Male English international adolescent golfers (N = 10) were interviewed regarding their experiences of stress appraisals, emotions, and coping during competitive golf.

Emotions were generated within or as a consequence of stress appraisals, after coping, and after the event outcome. Additionally, multiple emotions were generated from the stressful appraisal of the event outcome. Positively toned emotions were cited more frequently than negatively toned emotions after favorable events, whereas negatively toned emotions were reported more frequently than positively toned emotions after unfavorable events.

Implication. Coping with successful and unsuccessful experiences as well as pre-performance appraisals is an essential skill for competition preparation and execution.

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