Research article - (2025)24, 160 - 172
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.160
Stress and Anxiety Among Elite Volleyball Referees While Officiating
Stefanie Klatt1,, Lisa-Marie Bea1, Sebastian Brückner2, André Jungen3, Benjamin Noël1, Bernd Strauss2
1German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, Section Cognition in Team Sports, Germany
2University of Muenster, Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, Department of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Germany
3TU Dortmund, Department of Business and Economics, Germany

Stefanie Klatt
German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, Section Cognition in Team Sports, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Email: s.klatt@dshs-koeln.de
Received: 14-04-2023 -- Accepted: 30-01-2025
Published (online): 01-03-2025

ABSTRACT

Effective decision making and communication are essential skills for sports officials, who frequently report experiencing considerable stress across various sports. This study evaluated the impact of a stress management program on elite volleyball referees. The intervention aimed to reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing coping strategies. Thirty-eight referees (24 males, 14 females) participated in a randomized intervention guided by two experienced applied sport psychologists. Stress and physiological measures were assessed before and after officiating. Anxiety and officiating-related stress were evaluated using the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and an adapted version of the Basketball Officials Source of Stress Survey (BOSSS-d), respectively. Cardiac responses, including heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), were monitored during games. The program’s effectiveness was assessed using the Inventory of Quality Sport Psychological Support (QS17). Although the pre- and post-intervention comparisons did not reveal significant changes in anxiety, reported sources of officiating-related stress, or cardiac responses, findings from the QS17 indicated potential benefits of the stress management program for elite volleyball referees, highlighting avenues for sport psychological support and interventions. Future research, particularly longitudinal studies, is needed to further explore referees’ stress experiences during officiating.

Key words: Stress management, decision making, stress, officiating, sport psychology

Key Points
  • The current study examined the relationship between stress, anxiety, heart rate, and heart rate variability among elite German volleyball referees.
  • An intervention program was devised with the goal of diminishing stress, anxiety, and negative affect among volleyball referees while also improving coping strategies.
  • The results indicate that elite volleyball referees report minimal sources of stress and anxiety.
  • The Inventory of Quality Sport Psychological Support ratings indicated enhanced cognitive appraisal and coping strategies following stress management program completion.








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