Validation of the French version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) including frequency and direction scales

ObjectivesThe main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the validity and the reliability of the French version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) including direction and frequency scales.MethodSix hundred and forty two male and female athletes competing in different individual and team sports participated in the study. Data were analysed with reliability and confirmatory factor analyses as well as with correlational analyses.DesignCross-sectional with self-reported questionnaires.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses showed acceptable fits of the data for the 3-factor models (somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety and self-confidence) of the intensity, direction, and frequency scales, and a good fit of the data for the hypothesized 9-factor model (i.e., including the three scales). Results provided evidence for the relative superiority of a model of the French CSAI-2R in which the somatic anxiety item 1 was discarded. The pattern of inter-scale correlations between the different subscales was in line with the results reported by the literature and suggested not including the self-confidence direction subscale because it might measure the same concept as the self-confidence intensity subscale. The patterns of relationships between the Sport Anxiety Scale, the Sport-Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Sport-MPS) and the three scales of the CSAI-2R provided evidence for the criterion-related validity of the French CSAI-2R.ConclusionThis study provided support for the reliability and validity of the French version of the CSAI-2R including direction and frequency scales. Competitive state anxiety is significantly associated with competitive trait anxiety and sport perfectionism.