Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40868545›Full record

ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Competitive Anxiety, Sports Injury, and Playing Category in Youth Soccer Players.

Rafael Sánchez-Ruiz, Laura Gil-Caselles, Alejo García-Naveira, Félix Arbinaga, Roberto Ruiz-Barquín, Aurelio Olmedilla-Zafra

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rafael Sánchez-RuizDepartment Psychology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Laura Gil-CasellesResearch Group HUMSE, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Alejo García-NaveiraDepartment Psychology, University Villanueva, 28034 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-2249-4198
Félix ArbinagaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-6649-1904
Roberto Ruiz-BarquínInterfaculty Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Teacher Training, University of Autónoma Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-7149-2685
Aurelio Olmedilla-ZafraDepartment of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-2389-0515

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescence is a critical period of physical, psychological, and social development, during which athletes are particularly vulnerable to stress and injuries. Competitive anxiety has been identified as a psychological factor that may increase injury risk; however, its role among young soccer players remains underexplored.

objectivesThis study aimed to analyse the association between competitive anxiety and injury vulnerability in young male soccer players aged 10 to 15 years.

methodsA total of 322 male soccer players from youth categories (Alevin, Infantil, and Cadete) participated. Competitive anxiety was assessed using the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2), and injury data were collected via a self-reported questionnaire covering the 2024-2025 season. Descriptive, comparative, and correlational analyses were conducted using non-parametric tests.

resultsA high incidence of injuries was observed, increasing progressively with age category. In the overall sample, injuries were associated with higher levels of Somatic Anxiety, as well as with age and sporting experience, variables also linked to increased Worry and reduced Distraction. When analysed by category, no significant associations between anxiety and injury were found in Alevin players. In the Infantil group, injury incidence showed a slight increase with age and experience, but no association with anxiety was detected. Among Cadete players, injuries were positively related to Somatic Anxiety and Distraction, highlighting the influence of psychological factors at this developmental stage.

conclusionsThese findings underscore the relevance of competitive anxiety, particularly Worry and Distraction, as risk factors for injury in youth soccer. The implementation of preventive psychological interventions and ongoing monitoring is recommended to reduce anxiety levels and injury vulnerability, thereby promoting safer and healthier athletic development among young soccer players.

Indexed as

developmental stagesinjury vulnerabilityperformance anxietypsychological risk factorsyouth soccer

Identifiers

PMID40868545
PMCPMC12384764

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.