Conroy, D. E., Willow, J. P., & Metzler, J. N. (2002). Multidimensional fear of failure measurement: the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 76-90.

The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory was established using general college students as a sample (M = 204; F = 234). Five aversive consequences of failure assessed by the 25-item inventory were:

• experiencing shame and embarrassment,
• devaluing one's self-estimate,
• having an uncertain future,
• important others losing interest, and
• upsetting important others.

A five-item short form was also validated.

Fear of failure was associated with high levels of worry, somatic anxiety, cognitive disruption, and sport anxiety, as well as low levels of optimism.

Implication. It is necessary to cross-validate this instrument on a group of sport-specific athletes to demonstrate the general factors are also relevant to the specific sport situation.

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