Kecemasan Kompetisi: Tinjauan Kritis Literatur Psikologi Olahraga Berdasarkan Multidimensional Anxiety Theory

Abstract

This study aims to examine the phenomenon of anxiety in competitive sports through a systematic approach based on the Multidimensional Anxiety Theory (MAT) developed by Martens et al. (1990), which conceptualises anxiety as a multidimensional response comprising cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence as a balancing factor. Cognitive anxiety is related to negative thoughts and fear of failure, while somatic anxiety is characterised by physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and increased heart rate. Using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method guided by PRISMA, this study screened 1,120 indexed articles and identified five relevant studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings show that competitive anxiety remains a significant challenge for athletes, particularly in individual sports and among adolescents, with mental toughness playing a crucial role in reducing both cognitive and somatic anxiety while strengthening self-confidence. Furthermore, psychological interventions such as mental training, mindfulness, and emotion regulation have proven effective in reducing pre-competition anxiety. Although most athletes reported low levels of anxiety, the cognitive dimension remains dominant and potentially disruptive to focus and performance. Thus, enhancing mental readiness through interventions grounded in MAT should be integrated into athlete development programmes, as MAT provides a relevant and applicable theoretical framework for comprehensively understanding and managing competitive anxiety in accordance with the characteristics of athletes and the type of sport.