Graduation Date
Fall 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Kinesiology, option Exercise Science
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Rock Braithwaite
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Whitney Ogle
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Charles Bloedon
Keywords
Northern California, Rock climbing, Anxiety, Sport performance, Competition
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine how anxiety affects rock climbing performance in a simulated competition setting. Anxiety is known to influence motor performance in athletic environments, often impairing fine motor coordination, decision-making, and movement efficiency. This research aimed to explore whether elevated competitive pressure would alter climb time, move count, and total mistakes made during bouldering performance. Fifteen intermediate climbers (V5 level) were recruited and completed three separate trials of the same route under varying conditions: (1) a control climb, (2) a self-competition trial where participants attempted to beat their own baseline time, and (3) a head-to-head competition against another climber designed to increase anxiety. Performance was measured through total time to completion, number of moves required, and technical mistakes recorded by an observer.
It was hypothesized that anxiety would negatively impact performance, resulting in slower times, higher move counts, and increased errors. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between conditions across all performance variables. Despite participants reporting increased feelings of pressure during competitive trials, their climbing efficiency and speed did not measurably decline. These findings suggest that intermediate climbers may demonstrate resilience under moderate anxiety or possess effective coping strategies that maintain performance during short-duration climbs. Future research should investigate larger sample sizes, diverse ability levels, physiological anxiety markers, and more complex routes to further understand how psychological stress interacts with climbing performance.
Recommended Citation
Miller, Jackson W., "The effects of anxiety on rock climbing performance in a competition setting" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2527.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2527