The Relationship Between Sports Anxiety and Sports Performance: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Anxiety is considered one of the most important psychological factors influencing athletes’ performance during competitive processes. Although previous studies have consistently reported a negative relationship between sports anxiety and performance, the magnitude of this relationship has varied across different samples, sports disciplines, and measurement approaches. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the overall effect size of the relationship between sports anxiety and sports performance through a meta-analytic approach. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and PsycInfo databases with the keywords 'sport anxiety,' 'competition anxiety,' 'sports performance,' 'athletic performance,' and 'anxiety and performance’. Studies were included if they examined athlete samples, investigated the relationship between anxiety and performance, and reported sufficient statistical data for effect size calculation. Seven studies involving a total of 1,313 athletes were included in the meta-analysis. Correlation coefficients reported in the studies were transformed into Fisher’s Z values, and a random-effects model was used to calculate the overall effect size. The results revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between sports anxiety and sports performance (Z = -5.048, p < 0.001). The overall effect size was calculated as moderate-to-high and negative (Fisher’s Z = -0.589; 95% CI = -0.734 to -0.391), indicating that increased levels of sports anxiety were associated with decreased athletic performance. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrated a high level of variability among the included studies (Q = 111.591, p < 0.001; I² = 94.623%), suggesting that contextual and methodological factors may influence the strength of the anxiety-performance relationship. Although the magnitude of the relationship differed across studies, the direction of the association was consistent, with all studies reporting negative correlations. These findings highlight the importance of psychological preparation strategies, including anxiety regulation, relaxation techniques, mental skills training, and confidence-building interventions, to support optimal athletic performance. Future research should examine potential moderators such as sport type, competition level, gender, age, and anxiety measurement methods to better understand factors influencing the relationship between anxiety and performance.