Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Among Football Players of Different Ethnics Groups in Malaysia

Anxiety consists of cognitive and somatic components. The present study aims to examine the relationship with ethnic and anxiety. The sample consisted of 147 football players, with Malay (N=54), Chinese (N=45), Indian (N=31), and others (N=17). Competitive State Anxiety Inventory –2, used to collect the data. The result showed that Malay ethnic categories exhibited as higher levels of cognitive anxiety, whereas Indian ethnic exhibit a higher level of somatic anxiety. Coaches, sport psychologist and counselors should use this research to provide suitable coping strategies to Malays and Indians soccer athletes, to reduce anxiety and enhance their performance.