Does the Media Impact Athletic Performance?

(Kyle Ott, B.S. & Marieke Van Puymbroeck, 2008)

Objectives
The above study aims at unearthing how the consumption and exposure to media affects the
mental state/energy levels of a sportsperson. It tries to initiate an examination of the influence
of the media as a distraction and its impact on athletic performance.
The study initially explains the distinction between physical and mental energy, and how the
latter gets affected due to various ‘distractions’. Mood responses, detrimental arousal and
anxiety levels, and stress, result in the consumption of mental energy, thereby probably
depleting the performance levels of a sportsman.
Through various lenses such as arousal, anxiety, mood etc., the study wishes to establish a
cause-effect relation between the same and the media, thereby linking it to the consumption
of mental energy and the retardation of performance levels.
Therefore, by stating that there does exist a distraction, fluctuation in mood and anxiety
levels, the study targets the performance levels of professional sportsmen and questions if it
gets affected by media.
Important research works quoted in the paper
The use of various article links present in respective sport websites and news houses have
been used.
Time spent fretting over distractions drains mental energy so that performance suffers
(Manktelow, 2006).
Haverstraw (2002) noted, distractions may arise from various sources including: the presence
of loved ones you want to impress, family or relationship problems, teammates and other
competitors, coaches, underperformance or unexpected high performance, frustration at
mistakes, poor refereeing decisions, changes in familiar patterns, unjust criticism, and the
media.
In order to define and distinct various concepts such as arousal, anxiety and mood, the study
has used a host of research works and text book statements.
Theories used
While describing arousal, anxiety and its affect on mental health, the study has used
Multidimensional Anxiety Theory, which hypothesizes that as cognitive anxiety increases,
athletic performance decreases. Few cognitive definitions and simple theories have been
applied to provide explanations as well.
Another theory used is that by A.F. Sanders - one entity that may affect one’s cognitive
functions is arousal level.
Methodology used
According to the paper, it was important to have a common definition and understanding of
media, arousal, stress, anxiety, and mood. It defined media as individuals who publicly report
or make public statements relative to an athlete’s performance.
The study looked into various forms of media such as newscasters, fans, critics and
paparazzi.
Further, it uses cognitive and social psychology-related concepts, rather mini concepts, to
describe mental states of sportspersons and base theories to land at a conclusion and help
choose the sample.
Post that, the study uses the simple technique of picking up examples of established
sportsmen who were docked and disturbed by the media around them, namely Ricky
Williams, Venus and Serena Williams, Mike Tyson and Clinton Portis.
Upon reading these situations, the study has tried to conceptualize the scenarios into theories
and concepts – such as positive vibes, ability to tackle the media, etc.
Conclusions
The study boldly confirms (after looking at the stories of various sportsmen) that media does
affect the performance of the sportsperson. However, it hasn’t stated that it is necessarily
negative, as there are two ways of dealing with it:
a) Meet the challenges to the media
b) Succumb and suffer
The research further suggests that sportspersons can use the above distractions to their
strengths.

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