본 연구는 육상선수가 시합 전 느끼는 경쟁 상태불안을 강도와 방향으로 구분하여 불안 강도 수준 보다 방향을 긍정적으로 해석하는 선수 개인차 변인을 제시하는데 목적이 있다. 본 연구의 대상은 대한육상경기연맹에 등록되어있는 제32회 전국 시.도 대항 문화체육관광부 장관기 육상경기대회(2011년 7월 22일~ 7월24일)에 참가한 남. 여 고등학교 선수 (우수)결승진출 50명과, (비우수)예선탈락 50명이다. 첫째, 우수선수집단이 비우수선수 집단 보다 신체적불안 강도가 낮게 나타났고, 자신감 강도는 높게 나타났으며, 방향해석에서는 인지적, 신체적, 자신감 요인 모두 긍정적인 방향해석이 나타났다. 둘째, 성별에 따른 우수선수와 비우수 선수 집단의 강도와 방향해석 차이 결과, 강도와 방향해석에서 인지적, 신체적, 자신감 모두 유의한 차이가 없었다. 셋째, 종목에 따른 우수선수와 비우수 집단의 강도와 방향해석 차이 결과, 강도와 방향해석에서 인지적불안과, 신체적불안에서 유의한 차이가 없었다. 넷째, 경력 집단 간 강도와 방향해석 차이 결과, 강도차이에서 인지적불안, 신체적불안 요인에서 유의한 차이가 없었다. 다섯째, 전 대회 실적 강도와 방향해석 차이 결과, 강도차이에서 인지적, 신체적, 자신감요인에서 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 방향차이에서 입상집단이 예선탈락자와, 결승진출자보다 인지적, 신체적, 자신감 요인에서 긍정적인 방향해석이 나타났다. 여섯째, 부상 여부에 따른 강도와 방향해석 차이 결과, 강도차이에서 신체적 강도는 부상이 있는 집단이 높게 나타났으며 인지적, 자신감요인에서는 유의한 차이가 없었다. 이상 결과를 종합해 볼 때, 강도 수준이 낮을 때 긍정적인 방향해석이 나타났고 또한 강도 수준과는 관계없이 경력이 많고 우수한 집단이 긍정적인 방향해석이 나타남을 입증하였다.
This study aims to present variables of individual difference among track and field athletes, which interprets direction more positively than intensity level of anxiety, by dividing the competitive state anxiety felt by them before the competitioninto intensity and direction. A survey was conducted on the subject of 50 high school athletes who made the final (excellent) and 50 eliminated in the preliminary round (non-excellent) at the 32nd nationwide track and field meet for minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (July 22 through 24, 2011) in the registry of Korea Association of Athletics Federations. First, as to the difference in intensity and directional interpretation of competitive anxiety between excellent and non-excellent athlete groups, excellent athlete group showed lower intensity of competitive anxiety and higher intensity of self-confidence, while a positive directional interpretation for all cognitive, physical and self-confidence factors. Second, as to difference between the excellent and the non-excellent by sex, in both intensity and directional interpretation, there was no significant difference for cognitive, physical and self-confidence factors. Third, as to difference between the excellent and the non-excellent by event, intensity and directional interpretation revealed no significant difference for cognitive and physical anxiety while self-confidence intensity was found to be high in middle distance for excellent group and short distance for non-excellent, whil eself-confidence showed more positive directional interpretat ion in middle distance than short distance for both excellent and non-excellent groups. Fourth, as to difference between subgroups by experience, regarding intensity there was no significant difference for cognitive and physical anxiety but for self-confidence7-10 year group was found to be high, while regarding directional interpretation, 7-10 year subgroup showed more positive interpretation compared to 4-6 year subgroup for all of cognitive, physical and self-confidence factors. Fifth, as to intensity and directional interpretation for previous competition performance, there was no significant difference in intensity for cognitive, physical and self-confidence factors while in direction, prize subgroup showed more positive directional interpretation than those eliminated from preliminary race and finalists for cognitive, physical and self-confidence factors. Sixth, as to yes or no injury, physical intensity was found to be high in a subgroup with injury with no significant difference for cognitive and self-confidence factors. In direction, subgroup without injury showed a positive directional interpretation for cognitive factor with no significant difference for physical and self-confidence factors. To conclude, the results above proved that positive directional interpretation did appear when intensity level was low, while regardless of intensity level, subgroup with much experience and superiority showed a positive directional interpretation. This study investigated how to take positive and negative ‘directional interpretation’ of anxiety, rather than intensity itself they feel in the course of performing athletics in which the outcome is only determined by a person, and it will help development of athletics by serving coaches and athletes with good data.