Shy Skaters? Shyness, Coping, and Adjustment Outcomes in Female Adolescent Figure Skaters

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between shyness and adjustment outcomes in competitive adolescent figure skaters. At Time 1, 40 female figure skaters completed self-reports of shyness, athletic self-esteem and psychological coping style. At Time 2, approximately nine months later, skaters completed a measure of competitive anxiety immediately prior to a competitive performance. Competitive placement at this performance was also recorded. Results revealed that shyness was associated with increased somatic (physiological) anxiety prior to competitive performance. Additionally, shyness was negatively related to athletic self-esteem and competitive performance, but these relations were moderated by the skaters' use of psychological coping styles. The results are discussed in terms of the role of coping style as a protective factor against the potential negative outcomes associated with shyness in the realm of athletics.