The role of effort in influencing the effect of anxiety on performance: Testing the conflicting predictions of processing efficiency theory and the conscious processing hypothesis

• Published in: The British journal of psychology Vol. 98; no. 3; pp. 411 - 428
• Main Authors: Wilson, Mark, Smith, Nickolas C., Holmes, Paul S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2007; British Psychological Society
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Applied psychology; Attention - physiology; Behavior - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition - physiology; Competitive Behavior - physiology; Conflict (Psychology); Consciousness - physiology; Effects; Efficiency - physiology; Effort; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Golf; Golf - psychology; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Mental Processes - physiology; Middle Aged; Performance evaluation; Personality Inventory; Physical Exertion - physiology; Predictions; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological Theory; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Self Disclosure; Sports; Sports. Leisure; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Studies; Theory; Time Factors; Human; Affect affectivity; Golf; Consciousness; Theory; Effort; Experimental study; Heart rate; Sport; Anxiety; Hemodynamics; Performance; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0007-1269; 2044-8295
• DOI: 10.1348/000712606X133047

The aim of this study was to test the conflicting predictions of processing efficiency theory (PET) and the conscious processing hypothesis (CPH) regarding effort's role in influencing the effects of anxiety on a golf putting task. Mid‐handicap golfers made a series of putts to target holes under two counterbalanced conditions designed to manipulate the level of anxiety experienced. The effort exerted on each putting task was assessed though self‐report, psychophysiological (heart rate variability) and behavioural (pre‐putt time and glances at the target) measures. Performance was assessed by putting error. Results were generally more supportive of the predictions of PET rather than the CPH as performance was maintained for some performers despite increased state anxiety and a reduction in processing efficiency. The findings of this study support previous research suggesting that both theories offer useful theoretical frameworks for examining the relationship between anxiety and performance in sport.