Emotion regulation strategies used in the hour before running

Damian M. Stanley, Andrew M. Lane, Christopher J. Beedie, Andrew P. Friesen, Tracey J. Devonport

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An online survey was used to explore emotion regulation strategies used by runners (N = 506, mean age = 37.69 years, SD = 8.84 years) in the hour prior to training or competition. Content analysis of responses identified 28 categories of emotion regulation strategy, with the most popular being goal setting (23%), distraction (12%), recall of past performance accomplishments (12%), and anticipated pleasant emotions after running (10%). Participants reported greater use of cognitive strategies than behavioural ones, with responses suggesting that emotion regulation and performance management are closely related. Given this cognitive focus, and given the performance aspect inherent to running, it is suggested that individuals' approaches to emotion regulation in sport and exercise contexts differ somewhat from those involved in general daily activities reported in the social psychology literature.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-171
JournalInternational Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Volume10
Issue number3
Early online date05 Apr 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Sept 2012

Keywords

  • emotion
  • mood
  • affect
  • self-regulation
  • psychological skills

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