Relationship Between Self-Confidence and Performance Anxiety in Elite Female Racquet Sports Players

Background: Self-confidence and performance anxiety are critical psychological factors that significantly influence athletic performance, particularly in competitive racquet sports. Understanding the relationship between these variables in young elite athletes is essential for developing effective psychological interventions. Objective: This study investigated the relationship between self-confidence and performance anxiety among elite female racquet sports players aged 12-15 years, comparing badminton and tennis athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 40 elite female athletes (20 badminton players and 20 tennis players) aged 12-15 years. Self-confidence was measured using the Sport Confidence Inventory (SCI), and performance anxiety was assessed using the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and independent t-tests. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between self-confidence and performance anxiety (r = -0.742, p < 0.001). Tennis players demonstrated significantly higher self-confidence scores (M = 78.45, SD = 8.32) compared to badminton players (M = 72.80, SD = 9.15), while badminton players showed higher performance anxiety levels (M = 65.40, SD = 11.28) than tennis players (M = 58.25, SD = 9.87). Conclusion: The findings reveal a strong inverse relationship between self-confidence and performance anxiety in young elite female racquet sports players, with sport-specific differences observed between tennis and badminton athletes.