Exploring the Association Between Irrational Beliefs, Motivation Regulation and Anxiety in Ultra-Marathon Runners: A Mixed Methods Approach

Researchers are beginning to explore the antecedents to anxiety symptomology. Such antecedents to anxiety symptomology may be that of irrational beliefs and motivation regulation. It has been intimated that both irrational beliefs and motivation regulation can be risk factors for increased anxiety in athletes. Research is yet to explore the association between these two antecedents, and how and whether they interact in predicting anxiety symptomology. The present paper investigates such associations within two phases. In phase one, we identify the predictive capacity of irrational beliefs and motivation regulation on anxiety symptomology in 61 elite ultra-marathon runners. Results support intimated associations between irrational beliefs and motivation regulation, evidencing that irrational performance beliefs negatively associated with relative autonomous motivation. In addition, it was found that irrational performance beliefs positively associated with anxiety symptomology, whilst autonomous motivation negatively associated with anxiety symptomology in elite ultra-marathon runners. In phase two, we use a narrative approach to understand seven elite athletes’ stories surrounding their performance beliefs, motivation, and anxiety symptomology. Phase two supports findings in phase one, evidencing that the co-existence of both irrational performance beliefs and controlled motivation is an antecedent to anxiety symptomology and dysfunctional behaviours in ultra-marathon runners. The findings of both phase one and phase two are discussed in relation to the theoretical and practical implications for elite athletes.