Effect of Trait and State Anxiety on Overhead Defensive Clear Shot Skill Performance Regarding Some Kinematic Variables for Badminton Players

Anxiety is a psychological state of mind that affects skillful performance negatively or positively according to the type of anxiety and the way it is interpreted by the player, especially in individual games, such as badminton. On the other hand, the kinematic variables can better determine if players’ skill performance is successful.

This study aimed to determine the effect of anxiety (if any) (including anxiety types trait and state) on overhead clear skill performance regarding some kinematic variables for badminton players.

The study sample consisted of 61 beginner badminton players (with mean scores of age: 14.3 ± 1.2 years, mass: 51.20 ± 1.31 kg, height: 1.66 ± 0.10 m, training period: 3.9 ± 1.3 years), distributed to 3 groups based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y questionnaire. The equivalence of these groups was calculated based on pre-test results, which were no anxiety, trait anxiety, and state anxiety.

The results showed that trait and state anxiety had negative effects on badminton players’ performance of overhead defensive clear shot skill in terms of some kinematic variables. The results also showed that the effect of trait anxiety was more negative than the effect of state anxiety.

The researchers recommend having knowledge of the level, type, and extent of anxiety, including relevant effects on the performance of beginner badminton players in all physiological, motor, and biomechanical aspects, to develop psychological rehabilitation programs that deal with anxiety according to the type, which the player can overcome.