State self-confidence, mood states, and sleep perceptions of collegiate tennis players: toward theory development

Male tennis players were studied over a four-month period in an attempt to discover how confidence, moods, and sleep fluctuate over an athletic season. Also, preliminary steps toward theory development involving these variables were taken. Subjects were members of a Division I varsity men's tennis team. Various assessment tools were used and included the TSCI, SSCI, POMS, CSAI-2, ESSSA, coach's rankings of players' moods and confidence, sleep and mood charts, and semi-structured interviewing. Subjects were studied during pre-season, off-season, and during the competitive season. During the season, players provided information about their state sport confidence, pre-competitive mood, and their sleep, within one hour of eight intercollegiate competitions. Case studies that represented extreme or unique information on confidence, moods, and sleep were written up in detail. Findings revealed that, as a whole, this group of student-athletes had variable sleep patterns at different periods in the study, but moods did not vary appreciably. Pearson product moment correlations revealed that coach's rankings of the player's tennis ability, mood control, general sport confidence, and performance consistency were all significantly correlated (p < .05). It was concluded that a great many factors may influence an athlete's confidence, moods, and sleep. The particular situations that are germane to college student-athletes were described, and the high degree of idiosyncracy of confidence, moods, and sleep was emphasized. It was concluded that future studies may lead to theory development, offering applications for coaches and athletes. I dedicate this work first to my family, especially my parents. Though time and distance have separated us over the years, your love and support have never strayed. My love, respect, and admiration for who you are as people and as parents will never diminish. Also, I dedicate this work to the truly exceptional student-athletes and to the wonderful mentors, colleagues, and friends that I have met at the University of Virginia.

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