Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Reader 1

Lahnna Catalino

Reader 2

Jose Arreola

Abstract

Collegiate athletes face distinct psychological pressures that increase vulnerability to performance anxiety and related mental health concerns. Pre-performance rituals, which are repeated, structured actions that athletes perform prior to competition, have been proposed as a practical self-regulation strategy to reduce anxiety and enhance confidence. The present study examines whether ritual engagement predicts state performance anxiety among NCAA athletes and if this relationship is mediated by self-efficacy, their perceived ability to perform effectively. A minimum sample of approximately 90 student-athletes from the Claremont Colleges will complete an online survey assessing ritual engagement, athletic self-efficacy, and pre-competition anxiety using validated measures. Regression analyses will be used to determine if higher ritual engagement is linked to lower levels of state anxiety. Additionally, mediation analyses will be conducted to assess whether self-efficacy supports this relationship. It is hypothesized that athletes who engage in pre-game rituals more consistently will report lower anxiety and higher self-efficacy, with self-efficacy partially mediating the relationship between ritual engagement and anxiety. The findings of this research will contribute to the field of sport psychology by identifying rituals as accessible, behavior-based tools for emotion regulation, with important implications for enhancing performance and supporting athlete mental health.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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